GB2585950A

GB2585950A - Safety connector

Info

Publication number: GB2585950A
Application number: GB1910747.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Keeley Tony; Mcginnis Joe
Original assignee: Maxsafe Global Ltd
Current assignee: Maxsafe Global Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-26
Filing date: 2019-07-26
Publication date: 2021-01-27
Also published as: GB201910747D0

Abstract

A connector (10), for coupling a hose for media under pressure, comprises a female part (12) operable to receive a male part (14). A locking sleeve (24) locks the male part (14) in a connected position in the female part (12). A coupling sleeve (22) is biased towards a coupling position for holding the lock in an engaging position. The coupling sleeve (22) is moveable against the bias to a releasing position allowing disconnection of the male part and the female part. The coupling sleeve (22) is moved into the releasing position in both rotational displacement about the longitudinal axis of the connector and in axial displacement parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connector. The connector further comprises coupling sleeve locking means operable to lock the coupling sleeve in the coupling position. Connector may also have a vent for releasing the pressure inside the unit before disconnection.

Description

SAFETY CONNECTOR

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to connectors and particularly safety connectors for coupling hoses or the like for media under pressure.

BACKGROUND

Connectors of this type are often one part of a so-called quick coupling, which are known and exist in many different forms and configurations. An important area of application for such couplings is to enable rapid connection and disconnection of a hose to a tool operated by pressure medium to/from a hose supplying pressure medium and from a first hose supplying pressure medium to a second hose.

During use of the connected tool or hose, the coupling can get caught on other items or uneven ground and/or pulled by the user, resulting in a force along the longitudinal axis of the coupling which may lead to unintentional disconnection. To address this problem, couplings were designed having locking sleeves which operate in a manner in which they have to be both displaced in the axial direction and rotated around the axis in order for disconnection to be possible.

However, this did not sufficiently address the problem because, in use, the connected tool or hose can be often rotated thereby causing unintentional rotation of the locking sleeve resulting in only subsequent axial displacement of the locking sleeve to unintentionally disconnect the coupling.

Patent document number US6,412,829B1 describes a quick-action coupling which includes a female part and nipple connector. The nipple fits into the female part. A lock ball is provided for locking the nipple in the connected position with the female part. A coupling sleeve is spring-loaded toward a coupling position in which it holds the ball lock in the engagement position. The coupling sleeve can be moved, counter to the spring-loading, to a release position in which the ball lock is released. The movement of the coupling sleeve to the release position includes both rotation about the longitudinal axis of the coupling and axial displacement.

Another problem associated with couplings is the release of pressurized media upon disconnection of the coupling, which can be dangerous as the pressurized media can cause hose whip potentially causing injury to a person nearby.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved connector for safely coupling hoses or the like for media under pressure.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for coupling a hose for media under pressure, the connector comprising: a female part operable to receive a male part; a lock for locking the male part in a connected position in the female part; a coupling sleeve biased towards a coupling position for holding the lock in an engaging position, wherein the coupling sleeve is moveable against the bias to a releasing position allowing disconnection of the male part and the female part; wherein the coupling sleeve is moved into the releasing position in both rotational displacement about the longitudinal axis of the connector and in axial displacement parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connector; wherein the connector further comprises coupling sleeve locking means operable to lock the coupling sleeve in the coupling position.

The coupling sleeve locking means advantageously comprises a locking sleeve disposed around at least part of the coupling sleeve.

The locking sleeve advantageously comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve.

The connector advantageously comprises engaging means operable to selectively prevent rotation of the coupling sleeve relative to the locking sleeve.

The engaging means advantageously comprises an engaging member and an engaging receiver.

The engaging member is preferably disposed on the coupling sleeve and the engaging receiver is disposed on the locking sleeve.

The connector may comprise a valve operable to seal the connector during disconnection, wherein the valve is advantageously actuated by displacement of the locking sleeve.

Displacement of the locking sleeve advantageously causes displacement of a valve pin operable to cause opening and closing of the valve.

The connector advantageously further comprises venting means operable to vent the connector of media under pressure prior to disconnection of a said male part from the female part.

The venting means is advantageously actuated by displacement of the locking sleeve.

Displacement of the locking sleeve advantageously causes the valve when closed to form a venting path operable to vent upstream media disposed within the connector to the external environment prior to the coupling sleeve being moveable to disconnect the male part and the female part.

The connector may further comprise a male part operable to connect to the female part.

DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be describes by way of example, and with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view through a connector, according to the present invention, in which male and female parts are disconnected; Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the connector of Figure 1, in which male and female parts are connected; Figures 3a-3c are schematic drawings showing the function of the locking means with respect to the coupling sleeve relative to the locking sleeve.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a connector 10 according to the present invention comprises a female part 12 for receiving and connecting with a male part 14.

The female part 12 has a back body 16, a valve body 18, a ball lock cage 20, a coupling sleeve 22 and a locking sleeve 24. The back body 16, valve body 18 and ball lock cage 20 are hollow to allow media to flow through the connector in use.

The back body 16 and the valve body 18 are connected by cooperating threads 25 suitably disposed on the respective bodies and sealed by an 0-Ring seal 26. The opposite end of the valve body 18 has an inwardly extending flange 27 around the inner circumference thereof. The valve body 18 is connected with the ball lock cage 20 by cooperating threads 28 suitably disposed on the respective bodies and sealed with an 0-Ring seal 29.

The back body 16 is operable to connect the connector to the end of a hose (not shown) suitable for carrying media under pressure, such as, for example, a pressurized gas or liquid.

The valve body 18 comprises a valve chamber 30 having a ball seal 32, a downstream 0-Ring seal 34, abutting against the flange 27, and an upstream 0-Ring seal 36. The ball seal 32 is made from PTFE, or similar material capable of providing a sufficient seal, and has an opening 38. The ball seal 32 further comprises a venting pathway 33 formed into its body. The ball seal 32 is moveable between a closed position (Figure 1) in which the ball seal 32 is engaged with the downstream 0-Ring seal 34 and the upstream 0-Ring seal 36 to close and seal the female part 12, and an open position (Figure 2) in which the opening 38 is aligned in the direction substantially of the longitudinal axis of the connector 10 to enable media to flow therethrough.

A receiving notch 40 is disposed in the surface of the ball seal 32 and operable to receive a valve pin 42. The valve pin 42 extends across the valve chamber 30 and is operatively connected to the locking sleeve 24 by an actuating member 44.

The locking sleeve 24 comprises a first sleeve part 46 and a second sleeve part 48 connected to each other using cooperative threads 50 on each of the first and second sleeve parts, 46 and 48. The locking sleeve 24 being in two parts enables insertion of the valve pin 42 into the valve chamber 30, positioning of the valve pin 42 in the receiving notch 40 and connection of the valve pin 42 to the locking sleeve 24.

The external surface of the valve body 18 has a circumferentially extending recess 52 which opens into an axially extending recess 54 disposed in the internal surface of the coupling sleeve 22 at a predetermined circumferential position (Figure 2). The recesses, 52 and 54, are defined by the external surface of valve body 18 and the internal surface of the coupling sleeve 22. A ball bearing 56 is disposed to travel along the recesses, 52 and 54, between the valve body 18 and the coupling sleeve 22.

The upstream peripheral end of the valve body 18 has an end portion of reduced outer diameter forming an abutment 58. The coupling sleeve 22 has a portion of reduced inner diameter forming a cammed surface 59 and an abutment 60.

A torsion spring 62 is disposed between abutment 58 and abutment 60.

The ball lock cage 20 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart holes 64 and corresponding locking balls 66 disposed in each hole 64 such that they are free to move in a radial direction therewithin, relative to the longitudinal axis of the connector 10. An 0-Ring seal 68 is seated within a seal groove 70 extending around the internal circumference of the ball lock cage 20.

A locking bush 72 is disposed within the ball lock cage 20. The locking bush 72 has a seal groove 74, in which an internally facing 0-Ring seal 76 is disposed, and an abutment 78 extending inwardly around the inner circumference of the locking bush 72.

A biasing spring 80 is disposed between the abutment 78 and the flange 27. The biasing spring 80 is operable to bias the locking bush 72 to cause the locking balls 66 to locate within the corresponding respective holes 64 when the connector is disconnected. In this disconnected state, the location of the locking balls 66 act to stop longitudinal displacement of the coupling sleeve 22, which is forwardly biased by the torsion spring.

Referring also to Figures 3a to 3c, the female part 12 further comprises locking means operable to lock the coupling sleeve 22 in the coupling position.

The locking means comprises the coupling sleeve 22 having a region of reduced external diameter 82 and an engaging member 84 extending longitudinally therefrom on the same external plane; and the locking sleeve 24 having a region of increased internal diameter 86, operable to engage with the region of reduced external diameter 82, and an engaging receiver 88 extending longitudinally on the same internal plane therefrom, operable to engage with the engaging member 84.

The male part 14 has a commonly used profiled plug 90 having an end portion 92 of reduced diameter, a ridge 94 extending around the external circumference of the plug 90 and a groove 96 extending around the external circumference of the plug 90.

Upon connection of the female part 12 and male part 14, the end portion 92 of the male part 14 is inserted into the open end of the ball lock cage 20 of the female part 12. The end portion 92 abuts the 0-Ring seal 76 to form a seal between the male part 12 and the female part 14 and the ridge 94 abuts the end of locking bush 72. Further insertion of the male part 14 into the female part 12, against the bias of biasing spring 80, longitudinally displaces the locking bush 72 away from the holes 64 allowing the cammed surface 59 of the coupling sleeve 22 to travel over the locking balls 66 causing the locking balls to engage with the groove 96 in the plug 90, thereby coupling the female part 12 and the male part 10.

At this stage of connection, the female part 12 and the male part 14 are coupled together.

As the coupling sleeve 22 is displaced forwards the torsion spring 62 causes rotation of the coupling sleeve 22 relative to the locking sleeve 24, as shown in Figures 3a-3b, wherein the region of reduced external diameter 82 and engaging member 84, of the coupling sleeve 22, rotates under the region of increased internal diameter 86 of the locking sleeve 24, until the engaging member 84 angularly aligns with the engaging receiver 88.

Moving the locking sleeve 24 forwards (i.e. over the coupling sleeve 22) simultaneously causes the engaging member 84 to enter the engaging receiver 88 and thereby lock the coupling sleeve 22 in the connected state; and causes the valve pin 42 to rotate the ball seal 32 allowing flow of media through the connector 10.

At this stage of connection, the female part 12 and male part 14 are coupled together by the coupling sleeve 22 and the locking sleeve 24 prevents rotation and longitudinal displacement of the coupling sleeve 22, which is required to disconnect the female and male parts. Therefore, the connector 10 cannot be disconnected with the valve ball 32 open as disconnection requires disengaging the locking sleeve 24 from the coupling sleeve 22, which automatically closes the valve ball 32.

To disconnect the female part 12 from the male part 14, the locking sleeve 24 is moved backwards which closes the ball seal 32 and disengages the engaging member 84 and engaging receiver 88. With the ball seal 32 in the closed position the venting pathway 33 is positioned to enable upstream media to vent back across the downstream 0-Ring seal 34 into the external environment.

At this stage of disconnection, the female part 12 and the male part 14 are still coupled together by the locking balls 66 engaged with the groove 96 but the flow of media has been shut off at the ball valve 32 and upstream pressurized media has been vented, thereby enabling safe disconnection of the male and female parts.

Rotating and pushing the coupling sleeve 22 against the bias of the torsion spring 62 decouples the female part 12 and male part 14 and disconnects the connector 10.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a safe connector for use with pressurized media (e.g. gas, fluid).

Claims

CLAIMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.1. A connector for coupling a hose for media under pressure, the connector comprising: a female part operable to receive a male part; a lock for locking the male part in a connected position in the female part; a coupling sleeve biased towards a coupling position for holding the lock in an engaging position, wherein the coupling sleeve is moveable against the bias to a releasing position allowing disconnection of the male part and the female part; wherein the coupling sleeve is moved into the releasing position in both rotational displacement about the longitudinal axis of the connector and in axial displacement parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connector; wherein the connector further comprises coupling sleeve locking means operable to lock the coupling sleeve in the coupling position.
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling sleeve locking means comprises a locking sleeve disposed around at least part of the coupling sleeve.
A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking sleeve comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve.
A connector as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the connector comprises engaging means operable to selectively prevent rotation of the coupling sleeve relative to the locking sleeve.
A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging means comprises an engaging member and an engaging receiver.
A connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engaging member is disposed on the coupling sleeve and the engaging receiver is disposed on the locking sleeve.
7. A connector as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, wherein the connector comprises a valve operable to seal the connector during disconnection, and wherein the valve is actuated by displacement of the locking sleeve.
8. A connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein displacement of the locking sleeve causes displacement of a valve pin operable to cause opening and closing of the valve.
9. A connector as claimed in claim 7 or 8, further comprising venting means operable to vent the connector of media under pressure prior to disconnection of a said male part from the female part.
10. A connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein the venting means is actuated by displacement of the locking sleeve.
11. A connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein displacement of the locking sleeve causes the valve to form a venting path operable to vent upstream media disposed within the connector to the external environment prior to the coupling sleeve being moveable to disconnect the male part and the female part.
12. A connector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a male part operable to connect to the female part. 25