CONNECTOR FOR HYDRAULIC LINES, MULTI-CONNECTOR DEVICE FOR THIS CONNECTOR AND TOOL FOR MOUNTING AND/OR DISMOUNTING THE CONNECTOR

A Connector comprising at least one tubular body provided with at least one mouth suitable to be coupled with a complementary connector, wherein the tubular body is also provided with a series of radial openings which partially house a plurality of spheres arranged along a circumference of the tubular body, wherein the spheres cooperate with connection means to move in a radial direction of the tubular body between an extended position, in which they protrude towards the outside of the tubular body, and a retracted position, in which they protrude towards the inside of the tubular body, wherein a thread is formed around the tubular body or around an element integral with the tubular body, wherein the thread is open from the side opposite the mouth of the connector, so that the connector can be screwed into a corresponding threaded seat in a direction facing the side opposite the mouth. The present description also relates to a multi-connector device for this connector and a tool which serves to mount and/or remove the connector in this multi-connector device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates to a connector for hydraulic lines, in particular for multi-connector devices which can be fixed to vehicles, such as agricultural machines. The present description also relates to a multi-connector device for this connector and a tool which serves to mount and/or remove the connector in this multi-connector device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DESCRIPTION

EP 2884146 discloses a multi-connector device comprising a main body provided with seats which completely house female connectors with a flat-faced mouth accessible from a coupling side of this main body. The coupling side of the multi-connector device, the mouth of the connectors and the relative disconnection means form a substantially flat surface and do not allow to act on the connectors from the coupling side, so that the connectors are inserted into the main body from the side opposite the coupling side, without the disconnection means, and blocked on this opposite side with fastening elements, after which the disconnection means are firmly fixed to the connectors in a substantially irreversible manner. However, this arrangement increases the overall dimensions of the multi-connector device and makes it more difficult to mount and above all remove the connectors, since the side opposite the coupling side is provided with hydraulic and/or electrical lines that limit accessibility to the connectors.

DE 10230293 A1 discloses a connector according to the preamble of claim1.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

The object of the present description is therefore to provide a multi-connector device free from such drawbacks. Said object is achieved with a connector, a multi-connector device and a tool, the main characteristics of which are specified in the attached claims, to be considered an integral part of the present description.

Thanks to the particular threads formed around the connector and its seat in the multi-connector device, the connector does not require fastening elements that protrude from the multi-connector device and can be fixed in its seat or removed from it in a simple and fast way, especially if the particular tool according to the present description is used.

Said tool indeed exploits the movable spheres of the connector to be coupled with it and thus transmit the torque necessary to unscrew or screw the connector. With this arrangement, the tool can be coupled with the connector by penetrating its mouth, so as not to have to alter the substantially flat surface of the coupling side of the multi-connector device, especially if the connector is a female connector with a flat-face mouth and/or is provided with disconnection means arranged around this mouth.

The connector is preferably provided with a particular fitting which allows the hydraulic line between the connector and the multi-connector device to be automatically created during the mounting of the connector, especially if the multi-connector device is already prepared with a mouth complementary to the mouth of the fitting.

The tool is preferably provided with a particular collar and/or a particular axial cavity, which improve the mechanical coupling with the connector.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG.1, an embodiment of the multi-connector device1comprises at least one main body2provided with one or more seats suitable for housing at least partially, in particular completely, at least one connector3. The connectors3housed in the seats of the main body2are arranged with the longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other and are provided with at least one opening accessible from at least one coupling side2a(upper side in the figure) of the main body2. The seats of the main body2for the connectors3open therefore at least towards the coupling side2a. The coupling side2apreferably has a surface which is substantially flat and/or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes (vertical in the figure) of the connectors3, so that the mouth of the connectors3is substantially flush with this surface. The main body2of the multi-connector device1can be connected in a fixed or removable way to a vehicle or another machine. When the connectors3are not coupled with complementary connectors, the coupling side2acan be covered by a cover4which is pivoted to the main body2. One or more cams5can be pivoted on one or more sides of the main body2and can comprise at least one eccentric groove6with an open end6a. The cams5are connected to each other, for example by at least one bar7which can be provided with a handle8, to rotate together between a locked position (shown in the figure) and an unlocked position (rotated about 90° in the direction of the arrow) of the multi-connector device1. The main body2can also comprise seats for one or more disconnection means9, in particular pushers, which can be housed in the main body2(as in the figure) and can extend from the coupling side2aof the main body2when a connector3is coupled with a single complementary connector. The main body2can also comprise one or more cavities10which are open towards the coupling side2aand extend along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the connectors3.

FIG.2shows a second multi-connector device11which is suitable to be coupled with the multi-connector device1and which comprises at least one main body12provided with one or more seats suitable for housing at least partially one or more connectors13complementary to the connectors3, so that one or more pairs of connectors3,13of the multi-connector devices1,11can connect one or more pairs of hydraulic lines to each other. The connectors13are arranged with the longitudinal axes (vertical in the figure) substantially parallel to each other and can protrude from a coupling side12a(lower side in the figure) of the main body12. The coupling side12apreferably has a surface which is substantially flat and/or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the connectors13. The main body12of the multi-connector device11can be connected in a fixed or removable way to a utility to be connected to said vehicle or machine. One or more followers14can protrude from one or more sides of the main body12to enter through the open end6aof the eccentric grooves6of the cams5of the multi-connector device1and slide along these grooves, so that by rotating the handle8of the multi-connector device1from the unlocked position to the locked position, the multi-connector device11is pulled by the cams5and by the followers14to obtain the mutual approach of the two coupling sides2a,12aof the main bodies2,12and then the connection of the connectors13of the multi-connector device11with the corresponding connectors3of the multi-connector device1, and vice versa by rotating the handle8in the opposite direction. One or more pins15can protrude from the coupling side12aof the main body12of the multi-connector device11to enter the cavities10of the main body1of the multi-connector device1, so as to guide the coupling and uncoupling movements (indicated by the arrows) of the multi-connector device11with the multi-connector device1.

The connectors3are provided with connection means necessary to allow the coupling with single connectors. In particular, at least one of the connectors3is a female connector with a flat-faced mouth which can be opened when the mouth of a male connector13is inserted into the mouth of the female connector.

As shown inFIGS.3-5, at least one connector3of the multi-connector device1comprises at least one tubular body31, in particular having a substantially cylindrical symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis (vertical inFIG.3) of the connector3. The tubular body31can be formed by one or more parts joined together, in particular joined in a coaxial manner. The tubular body31can be provided with a series of radial openings32which partially house a plurality of spheres33, for example twelve in number, arranged along a circumference of the tubular body31. At least one ring34, in particular having a substantially cylindrical symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connector3, can be arranged around the tubular body31to cooperate with the spheres33and be urged axially by at least one spring35which acts between the ring34and the tubular body31. The spheres33in the radial openings32of the tubular body31can move in a radial direction between an extended position (shown in the figure), in which they protrude outside the tubular body31, and a retracted position, in which they protrude towards the inside of the tubular body31The radial movement of the spheres33in the radial openings32therefore depends on the position of the ring34, and vice versa. In particular, the upper edge of the ring34can be freed by the movement of the spheres33towards the inside of the tubular body31or the ring34can allow the spheres33to move towards the outside of the tubular body31if the ring34is pressed against the thrust of the spring35. The tubular body31, the spheres33and the ring34with the spring35belong to connection means which allow the connector3to be connected and to stably hold also a single connector, i.e. a connector not mounted on a multi-connector device. At least one annular relief37can be arranged around the mouth38of the tubular body31to prevent the ring34from separating from the tubular body31.

At least one thread31ais formed around the tubular body31of the connector3and is open from the side opposite the mouth38of the connector3, so that the connector3can be screwed into a corresponding threaded seat in a direction D facing the side opposite the mouth38.

The disconnection means9of the connector3can comprise a pusher provided with an annular body91joined to a radial protuberance92. The annular body91is joined in a rotatable manner around the ring34, so that the disconnection means9are axially fastened to the ring34but can rotate with respect to it around its longitudinal axis. For this purpose, the annular body91is provided with at least one protuberance93arranged in at least one annular groove39of the ring34, as in the present embodiment, or vice versa.

At least one fitting40can be joined to the tubular body31from the side opposite the mouth38of the connector3, so that the tubular body31is arranged between the mouth38and the fitting40. In particular, the fitting40is screwed by means of an external thread in a corresponding internal thread of the tubular body31, or vice versa. The fitting40comprises at least one mouth41, preferably provided with at least one annular gasket42, suitable to be coupled with the mouth of an external duct (not shown in the figures) of a hydraulic line. The fitting40is entirely contained in an ideal cylinder having a diameter C equal to the external diameter of the thread31a.

The coupling means of the connector3can also comprise a coupling mechanism43, for example of a known type as in the present embodiment, which is arranged in the tubular body31and which helps to achieve the coupling between the connectors3and13, as well as other accessory functions, such as for example opening and closing the mouth38by means of movable shutters44,45which form the flat face of the connector3together with the mouth38and the disconnection means9, if present.

As shown inFIGS.6-8, an embodiment of the tool50comprises a head51suitable to be mechanically coupled with a utensil to impart a torque to the tool50. The head51in particular has a prismatic shape, for example with a substantially regular hexagonal section, in order to be mechanically coupled with a torque wrench. The head51of the tool50is mechanically connected, for example by means of a collar52, to a shank53substantially coaxial with the head51and/or with the collar52. The shank53is suitable to penetrate at least partially into the mouth38of the connector3in a substantially coaxial manner with respect to the tubular body31. The head51, the collar52and the shank53are preferably made in a single piece, for example of metal. A plurality of radial seats54, for example twelve in number, which are arranged along a circumference and are suitable to partially house a corresponding plurality of spheres, in particular the spheres33of the connector3, are made outside the shank53. Preferably, the collar52protrudes radially with respect to the shank53and/or the shank53has a substantially cylindrical shape and/or the radial seats54have a concave shape, for example of a spherical, cylindrical or conical cap. At least the shank53of the tool50, in particular the shank53, the collar52and a portion of the head51, preferably has an axial cavity55suitable to house at least partially parts of the connector3, in particular parts of the coupling mechanism43, such as the movable shutter44.

As shown inFIG.9, in a first step of mounting the connector3into the multi-connector device1, the shank53of the tool50is inserted into the mouth38of the connector3until the collar52comes into contact with the mouth38. The distance between the collar52and the radial seats54of the shank53of the tool50is substantially equal to the distance of the spheres33from the mouth38of the connector3, so that the spheres33penetrate into the radial seats54if they are already aligned with each other or if the tool50is rotated about its longitudinal axis. When the spheres33of the connector3protrude into the radial seats54of the tool50, the ring34is released and pushed by the spring35towards the mouth38in the direction of the arrow together with the disconnection means9, so that the tool50remains fixed in the connector3, with the spheres33and the ring34preventing relative axial or rotational movements of the tool50with respect to the connector3. The coupling mechanism43of the connector3is partially arranged in the axial cavity55of the tool50. The free end of the stem53presses the movable shutter45, moving it away from the mouth38.

As shown inFIG.10, in a second step of mounting the connector3in the multi-connector device1, the connector3is inserted in the direction D from the coupling side2ainto the seat2bof the main body2of the multi-connector device1and screwed into the seat2bin the direction of the arrow in the figure. For this purpose, at least one seat2bof the main body2is provided with a thread2c, as in the present embodiment, or with an element with a thread, which thread is open towards the coupling side2aand is complementary to the thread31aof the tubular body31of the connector3. During the insertion of the connector3in the seat2bof the main body2, the disconnection means9are joined to the connector3and enter at least one seat2dwhich is obtained in the coupling side2aof the main body2around the seat2bfor connector3. The seat2dfor the disconnection means9preferably has an internal profile substantially complementary to the external profile of the disconnection means9, so that, while the connector3is screwed, the ring34rotates with respect to the disconnection means9, which slide axially in the seat2dwithout rotating. During the insertion of the connector3into the seat of the main body2, the mouth41of the fitting40is coupled with the mouth2eof a duct which is obtained in the seat2bof the main body2, or is fixed to the latter, from the side opposite the coupling side2ato create a hydraulic line with the connector3. When the connector3is screwed into the seat2b, the tool50can be disconnected from the connector3by activating the disconnection means9, in particular by pressing the radial protuberance92into the seat2dof the main body2, so that the ring34is pushed towards the tubular body31and the spheres33can be radially removed from the radial seats54of the tool50, by pulling the tool50towards the outside.

As shown inFIG.11, after the connector3is fixed in the multi-connector device1, a complementary connector80, for example a single male connector according to ISO 16028, can be coupled with the connector3in the direction D from the coupling side2ain the seat2bof the main body2, until the spheres33of the connector3snap into an annular groove81of the complementary connector80, so that the latter is axially locked with respect to the connector3but can rotate coaxially with respect to the latter. The disconnection means9can then be operated to release the complementary connector80.

When the multi-connector device1is instead coupled with a complementary multi-connector device, in particular the multi-connector device11, the connectors of this multi-connector device can be without an annular groove, since the fixing between the two multi-connector devices1,11is made for example by means of the cams5and the followers14or other fastening mechanisms, whereby the disconnection means9of the connectors3remain in their seats2dof the main body2of the multi-connector device1.

Variations or additions can be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiments described and illustrated here, remaining within the scope of the following claims. In particular, further embodiments may comprise the technical characteristics of one of the following claims with the addition of one or more technical characteristics described in the text or illustrated in the drawings, taken individually or in any reciprocal combination, including equivalent features thereof.