Abstract:
The present invention is an improved quick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid coupling of the type having a clip, a male portion having an annular groove adapted to receive the clip, a female portion, and a sealing element. It is improved by the female portion having a dual function frustoconical portion adapted to compress the sealing element during joinder of the male portion with the female portion as well as to compress the clip into the annular groove in preparation of separating the male portion from the female portion. Further, a sleeve is slideably placed about the male portion and adapted to capture the clip compressed within the annular groove.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/610,680, filed Sep. 17, 2004 and entitled QUICK CONNECT COUPLING. The subject matter of this application is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to flexible hose couplings. More particularly, it relates to a novel and improved quick connect hose couplings. Specifically, it relates to an improved push-to-connect and quick to disconnect flexible hose coupling.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Quick connect couplings are known. In such couplings a port adapter may include the female portion or port and be pre-assembled on an associated fixture, machine or equipment or the female portion or port may be machined as part of associated fixtures, machinery or equipment. The hose connection or male portion or hose stem, including a hose insert portion and a ferrule, are attached to an open end of the hose to be connected to the fixture, machinery or equipment. The hose stem portion has a hose insert portion, which is inserted into the open end of the hose. The ferrule is then compressed about the hose end containing the insert causing all portions to be permanently affixed. Merely pressing the hose connection portion into the female portion or port subsequently completes the hose connection. Such quick connect couplings are particularly desirable when the hose must be connected in a location which is not readily accessible since it eliminates the need for starting the threads and the danger of cross threading and eliminates the need to use a related tool which might not fit in the available space. Since the port adapter may be threaded into place as a pre-assembly operation, or the port preexisting in the associated fixture, machine or equipment, it is easy to insure that the port is proper and ready. Further, the time of assembly and, in turn, the assembly costs are reduced.  
         [0006]     Historically, the considerations that have driven the design of such couplings have included complexity of port design, effecting machineability, complexity of stem design, complexity and location of sealing elements such as o-rings or other shape of seals, complexity and location of locking components such as clips of various shapes, total number of components needed to complete the coupling, and interplay of the geometry of the port and the stem. All of these have greatly affected the cost of producing such couplings which impacts greatly upon their economic viability.  
         [0007]     It has also been important to ensure that such couplings can be used safely and reliably. Obviously, one of the primary purposes of such couplings is to provide a long lasting leak-free connection. However, over time, increasing emphasis has been placed upon safety. The quick disconnect characteristic of such couplings necessarily give rise to a greater opportunity for inadvertent and sudden disconnects, with grave results. This is particularly true in the environments where use of such couplings is especially appealing. These include industrial or heavy machinery locations where installations of fluid connections are numerous, dense, and almost inaccessible, having movement of many hard and heavy objects nearby, including the fixtures upon which the couplings are often attached. Unexpected impacts upon quick to disconnect couplings or maintenance in such difficult quarters can increase the likelihood of inadvertent disconnects. Inadvertent disconnects on pressurized systems can lead to damaged or broken machines, destroyed premises, severe injuries to maintenance or other workers, or even death, such as through unexpected machinery movement or spray of very hot fluids at high pressure.  
         [0008]     One example of a push to connect and quick to disconnect coupling can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,360 to Timbers, which is incorporated herein by this reference. It appears to be an attempt to provide both straight-forward push to connect and quick to disconnect processes while simplifying port and stem design to contain cost. Timbers &#39;360 discloses the advantage of a simple port design where no sealing or locking components or clips are integral. However, the disclosed stem is more complex including all sealing and locking components. Further, the locking component is intricate and relatively complex. Significantly, the disclosed coupling requires an additional component, or stop member, to make the coupling resistant to inadvertent disconnection. The complexity and additional components would increase the cost of the coupling.  
         [0009]     The coupling of Timbers &#39;360 completes its fluid connection by simply pressing the male portion into the female portion. With the stop member removed, the coupling is disconnected by additional insertion of the male portion into the female portion into closer engagement. This causes the port to compress the locking component. The unique and intricate shape of the locking component then allows it to grab unto the stem and stay compressed such that its locking function is deactivated. The two portions are then separated.  
         [0010]     It was apparently contemplated that the coupling of Timbers would be inadvertently disconnected too easily to be safe in many environments. Accordingly, the stop member was included in the disclosure. The stop member interferes with the male and female portions being pressed into closer engagement by filling space between the female and male portions. It would appear that the coupling with the stop member in place is resistant to inadvertent disconnection.  
         [0011]     However, both the use and shape of the stop member leaves substantial opportunity for the coupling to experience disastrous inadvertent disconnection. First, there is no way to ensure that the stop member will be properly installed on the coupling during the entire time of its deployment. The stop member could be absent from the beginning or removed at any time during the life of the coupling leaving no tell-tale sign that anything is amiss. In such a condition the coupling would no longer be resistant to inadvertent disconnection. Second, the disclosed shape of the stop member includes a loop that extends radially away from the coupling. In the environments described above as those where the use of a quick to connect and quick to disconnect coupling is especially appealing, the loop would be subject to gathering debris or other being hooked by moving objects. This gives rise to substantial opportunity for the stop member to be stripped from the coupling. Once again, the coupling would no longer be resistant to inadvertent disconnection.  
         [0012]     Safety is also compromised by the existence of such a rigid loop in many industrial or heavy machinery environments. It can be a direct source of damage or injury through the entanglement of debris, tools, clothing, hair or fingers. Further, it is not inconsequential that every time the coupling is to be disconnected, the metal loop, comprising the stop member, is removed to become lost as hazardous debris.  
         [0013]     Accordingly, there remains the need for a quick to connect and quick to disconnect coupling having simplified design for economic viability, but more importantly, exhibiting greatly enhanced safety by being highly resistant to inadvertent disconnection without relying on human intervention to ensure all safety components are present upon the coupling, not having dangerous external shapes, and not adding to the opportunity for distribution of dangerous debris.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention has as an object the provision of a quick connect and quick to disconnect hose coupling with an improvement in safety while retaining economical production and the benefits of such couplings.  
         [0015]     The present invention is an improved quick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid coupling of the type having a clip, a male portion having an annular groove adapted to receive the clip, a female portion, and a sealing element. It is improved by the female portion having a dual function frustoconical portion adapted to compress the sealing element during joinder of the male portion with the female portion as well as to compress the clip into the annular groove in preparation of separating the male portion from the female portion. Further, a sleeve is slideably placed about the male portion and adapted to capture the clip compressed within the annular groove. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of the specification in which like numerals designate like parts, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferred embodiment decoupled or disconnected;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferred embodiment during coupling operation (insertion);  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferred embodiment upon coupling;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferred embodiment prepatory to decoupling or disconnection operation;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded detail, from  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a locking element in the simplified form of a snap-ring;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is an elevation of a disconnect tool; and,  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a disconnect tool. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of this quick connect coupling  1  of the instant invention includes female portion or port  10  and hose stem  12 . The female portion or port  10  is illustrated as part of an adapter  14  having threads  16  and formed with wrenching flats  18 , as one contemplated embodiment and for convenience of illustration. Commonly, port  10  is expected to be machined into the body of a fixture, machine or equipment not depicted. For those instances where port  10  is formed into an adapter  14 , adapter  14  provides the base for port  10 . For those instances where port  10  is formed into a fixture, machine or equipment, these provide the base. Port  10  has an interior surface  20  defining an inlet opening  22 , an outlet opening  24 , a fluid passage  26 , a first frustoconical ramp  28 , a first cylinder  30 , annular wall  32 , second frustoconical ramp  36 , and optionally second cylinder  34 . First frustoconical ramp  28  is a dual function ramp serving functions in both the connection and disconnection operations, to be described later. Second frustoconical ramp  36  is a lead-in ramp, significant to connection operation described later.  
         [0026]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , hose stem  12  includes shaft  38  with a bore  40  having a stem inlet opening  42  and a stem outlet opening  44 . The shaft has an exterior surface  46  defining a first annular seal groove  48 , an annular clip groove  50 , an annular step groove  52 , a second annular seal groove  54 , sleeve abutment  55 , debris barrier  56 , hose stop  58 , hose insert  60 , and annular retaining groove  86 .  
         [0027]     Hose insert  60  would be placed in an opened end of a hose, not depicted, that would carry the subject fluid. Insertion would normally progress until the end of the hose met the hose stop  58 . The hose would be affixed in common manner with a clamp or ferrule, not depicted.  
         [0028]     First annular seal groove  48  carries first seal  62  and seal backing  64 . First seal  62  is a sealing element in the form of an o-ring. Seal backing  64  serves to increase the pressure at which the coupling can operate without fluid leaking past first seal  62 . Other available seal designs are also contemplated.  
         [0029]     Clip  66  is a locking element in the simplified form of a snap-ring having gap  68 , depicted in  FIG. 6 . Other clip shapes, such as with a square as opposed to a round cross section are also contemplated. Clip  66  is sized small enough that gap  68  must be enlarged to allow clip  66  to be large enough to pass over external surface  46 . However, clip  66  must also be large enough that gap  68  must be reduced to allow clip  66  to pass through first cylinder  30 . It is preferred that clip  66  is sized large enough that it completely fills the void created by first ramp  28  and optionally by second cylinder  34 . When so sized, it additionally acts as a wear buffer prolonging the life of coupling  1  by minimizing the wearing of port  10 . This feature is discussed more fully below. Gap  68  must be large enough to allow adequate reduction of clip  66  within clip groove  50 . Clip  66  is initially carried loosely in clip groove  50 .  
         [0030]     Second annular seal groove  54  carries second seal  70 , also an o-ring. A capture sleeve  72  is mounted upon exterior surface  46  in slideable relation to stem  12 . Sleeve  72  has capture cylinder  74  and shoulder  76 . Capture cylinder  74  includes one or more press spots  88  which is the result of a crimping or pressing operation, and function as restraining detents. It is also contemplated that these restraining detents could be formed by machining or molding similar shapes into capture cylinder  74 . Press spots  88  are diminutive to allow sleeve  72  to be slid into place upon exterior surface  46 . Once so placed, the interaction of retaining groove  86  and press spot  88  restricts sleeve  72  from being removed from exterior surface  46 . When sleeve  72  is moved against sleeve abutment  55 , second seal  70  is captured under sleeve cylinder  74 . Clip  66  is not (see  FIG. 2 ). When sleeve  72  is moved toward stem outlet  44 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , clip  66  is captured by sleeve cylinder  74  within clip groove  50 . Second seal  70  both seals the interface between exterior surface  46  and sleeve  72  against movement of contaminants, and provides friction to dampen movement of sleeve  72 . A third seal  80  is placed about capture cylinder  74  to span the gap between shoulder  76  and port  10  when coupling when coupling  1  is connected. Third seal  80  seals the interface of capture cylinder  74  and second ramp  36  against movement of contaminants.  
         [0031]     Connection of coupling  1  is effected by inserting stem  12  into port  10  as depicted in a beginning phase as regards the relationship of stem  12  to port  10  in  FIG. 2 . Note, in the preferred configuration in preparation of connection, clip  66  is captured by sleeve  72 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The insertion continues to the position depicted in  FIG. 3 . During this insertion, first seal  62  is guided by second ramp  36  into alignment with first cylinder  30 . First seal  62  is then compressed by second ramp  28  so that first seal  62  can move into a satisfactory sealing position between stem  12  and fluid passage  26 . It is because of this sealing relationship that fluid passage  26  can also be referred to as a sealing bore. Sleeve  72  is also guided by second ramp  36  into alignment with first cylinder  30 . As insertion progresses, sleeve lead-in  78  abuts first ramp  28 . After abutment of sleeve lead-in  78  and second ramp  28 , insertion of shaft  38  continues even though insertion of sleeve  72  is halted by this abutment. This results in sleeve  72  moving toward sleeve abutment  55 , relatively, and releasing clip  66 . Clip  66  is now captured only by passage  26 . Stem  12  is then retracted to the point depicted in  FIG. 3 , where clip  66  expands into the void left by first ramp  28  and optionally second cylinder  34 . Stem  12  and port  10  are now in axial locking relationship. If a force is applied to stem  12  to expel or pull it from port  10 , such as under the influences of fluid pressure or pulling upon stem  12  (“non-allowed separation”), clip  66  will be pressed into step groove  52  by wall  32 . Clip  66  will then be jammed between step groove  52  and wall  32 . Retraction of stem  12  from port  10  will not be allowed.  
         [0032]     Repeated attempts for non-allowed separation of coupling  1  while in the axial locking relationship, would wear upon wall  32 , and clip groove  50  but for the sizing of clip  66  described earlier and the presence of step groove  52 . Sizing clip  66  largely enough to fit snugly in the void left by first ramp  28  and second cylinder  34 , causes clip  66  to provide the additional function of a protective insert. A smaller sizing would allow clip  66  to work against wall  32  under the influences of non-allowed separation, wearing the material in which port  10  is formed, which is commonly softer than the material from which clip  66  is formed. The addition of step groove  52  causes the wear to occur in an orderly manner that gives indication of wear, by stem  12  seating in a less inserted manner in port  10  when in axial locking relationship, without a catstrophic failure of coupling  1 .  
         [0033]     Capture cylinder  74  of sleeve  72  fills the space between external surface  46  and first cylinder  30 , stabilizing stem  12  against lateral movement in relation to port  10 . Accordingly, first cylinder  30  can be referred to as a stabilizing bore.  
         [0034]     It is contemplated that insertion could be accomplished from a beginning point depicted in  FIG. 2  and with capture sleeve  72  abutting sleeve abutment  55 . In this configuration clip  66  is not captured by sleeve  72  prior to connection. However, this increases the force required for connection. In this instance, insertion forces would include not only the force necessary to compress first seal  62  by second ramp  36  and by first ramp  28  in sequence, but the additional force necessary to compress clip  66  by second ramp  36 . The force required to compress clip  66  by second ramp  36  can be substantial. By contrast, it can be seen that connection utilizing the preferred configuration where clip  66  is captured by capture sleeve  72  requires substantially lees insertion force.  
         [0035]     Disconnection of coupling is effected by first increasing the insertion of stem  12  into port  10  as depicted by the arrow in  FIG. 4 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  depict an intermediate position. First ramp  28  displaces clip  66  from step groove  52  toward clip groove  50  and then compresses clip  66  into clip groove  50 . During this operation first ramp  28  can be regarded as a disconnection ramp. Insertion continues until sleeve lead-in  78  abuts first ramp  28 , and clip  66  is compressed to a size that fits within passage  26 . Sleeve  72  is then axially moved to the position depicted in  FIG. 1 , in relation to stem  12  to capture clip  66 . This is effected, not by moving sleeve  72  in the direction of the arrow, but rather by holding it steady while shaft  38  is retracted opposite of the direction indicted by the arrow. In practice this is accomplished by applying a wedging action between shoulder  76  and debris barrier  56 . A tool such as a blade screw driver can provide the wedging action by inserting the blade between shoulder  76  and debris barrier  56  and twisting. As the tool is of common design, it is not depicted. The special purpose tool  82  depicted in  FIG. 7  can also provide the wedging action. Tines  84  are inserted between debris barrier  56  and shoulder  76 . Special purpose tool  82  is then rocked by applying pressure to handle  85  to provide the wedging action. Once clip  66  is thus captured under sleeve  72 , the jamming of clip  66  between wall  32  and step groove  52  cannot occur. The stem  12  becomes free to be disconnected from port  10 . Stem  12  is retracted from port  10 .  
         [0036]     There are several subtle aspects to the instant invention that make it essentially fail safe against inadvertent disconnection. Primarily, disconnection requires a combination of actions that will not occur naturally. Merely pushing upon stem  12  has no effect upon causing disconnection. Even pushing upon both stem  12  and shoulder  76  will not lead to disconnection. Disconnection requires the concerted efforts of pushing stem  12  into port  10  and wedging shoulder  76  apart from debris barrier  56 . Further, urging capture cylinder toward the clip capture position without first increasing the insertion of stem  12  into port  10  is completely ineffective for two complementary reasons. One, sleeve lead-in  78  would actually tend to move clip  66  farther out of clip groove  50  as well as back toward step groove  52 . Two, step groove  52  is too shallow to allow clip  66  to be compressed to a size that fits within passage  26 . It can further be seen that sleeve shoulder  76  does not extend beyond the reach of debris barrier  56 . According, sleeve  72  does not lend itself to being simply grabbed and pushed into this clip capture position.  
         [0037]     These subtleties allow the production of a quick to connect and quick to disconnect couplings that represents a dramatic leap forward in the safety of such couplings while keeping all of the desirable features. Further, they have led to such couplings without the additional hazards described in the Timbers &#39;360 (i.e., hazards loops and potentially hazardous debris).  
         [0038]     The foregoing description and illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been shown on the drawings and described in detail in varying modifications and alternative embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the foregoing description of the invention is exemplary only, and that the scope of the invention is to be limited only to the claims as interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.