COUPLING DEVICE

Abstract: Coupling device for coupling a sleeve part (15) and an insertion part (16) to be inserted into said sleeve part (15) of two structional elements respectively, both parts (15, 16) having a pair of holes (17, 18, 19, 20) being aligned and having a diameter which is greater than a widened end part (7) of a pin (1) having a bent part (8) with another widening (2) at the opposite end of the pin (1), a tumbler (3; 3′; 3″) having a centre hole (12) with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the widenings (2, 7) for passing through the pin 61) and the tumbler (3; 3′; 3″) being fastened to the sleeve part (15) by a coupling piece (5, 5′) such that it can rotate about an axis which intersects the common centre line of the aligned holes (17, 18, 19, 20) at right angles and which runs at a distance from said centre line, so that with the pin (1) being passed through the holes (12, 17, 18, 19, 20) the tumbler (3; 3′; 3″) can be rotated over said bent part (8) of the pin (1) to said other widening (2) thereof for making the pin (1) substantially immovable.

Description: The invention relates to a coupling device according to the preamble of claim 1. The elements to be coupled can be bars, pipes and the like. A coupling device of this type is known from FR-A-2 444 835, in particular fig.9. With the prior art device the locking means comprise a tab having a through hole therein and being connected perpendicular to the bent-over lockable end part of the pin. Said hole is intended to be used for locking the pin to a scaffold. Said document does not disclose how such locking is realized. After having inserted the pin through the holes of the sleeve part and the insertion part with the bent-over end part of the pin in one vertical direction it is turned over an angle of 180° enabling an other tab pivotably mounted in a longitudinal slot in an other end of the pin to pivot preventing the pin to be pulled back in this position. A disadvantage of the prior art device is that said other end part of the pin having said slot makes the pin relatively long, so that working people on the scaffold could be caught by it, which may cause a dangerous situation. In addition, because of said slot and the other tab pivotably retained therein, such pin is rather difficult to manufacture and therefore costly. Further said slot and the pivoting means for the tab present therein could be polluted or could be corroded such that the pivotable tap will not pivot if the pin is turned into the respective position thereof. If this is noticed by a person placing said pin he must try to pivot said tab by its fingers which is time consuming and cumbersome and might therefore be left undone causing a dangerous situation. If not noticed by said person this will also cause a dangerous situation. In addition it cannot be seen from some distance whether the pin is in its locking position. It is even more difficult to see from distance whether the pivotable tab is in its locking position. The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the known device. This object is achieved for the device described in the preamble of Claim 1 by means of the measures specified in the characterizing part of Claim 1. In this way a reliable locking of the inserted pin can always easily be obtained, and it can be seen from even a great distance away whether or not the device is in its locked position. The device according to the invention is relatively small and simple and is easily and quickly fastened to or removed from the sleeve part by means of a clamping strip. When the inserted part of the pin runs horizontally through the parts the axis of rotation of the tumbler element is preferably horizontal and disposed below the part of the pin inserted into the parts. This prevents inadvertent unlocking of a locked pin through the force of gravity. Each end of the pin preferably has a thickened part to prevent loss of the pin from the hole of the tumbler element. Since the tumbler element is rotatable, when the pin is fully withdrawn from the parts, it also assumes a user-friendly position, and then runs particularly in the longitudinal direction along the sleeve part. The tumbler element can be fastened by means of a coupling piece to the sleeve part, for example by welding. However, the tumbler element is preferably connected to the sleeve part by means of a strip of adjustable length which is fitted round the sleeve part. The invention will be explained with reference to the figures, in which: Fig. 1 shows in perspective and dismantled a preferred embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention; Figs. 2a, b, c show in perspective the coupling device according to Fig. 1 connected to a tubular structural element, in three different phases for coupling or uncoupling of another tubular part and securing of the securing pin of the coupling device; Fig. 3 with tubular parts shown in cross section shows the coupling device according to Fig. 1 in the phase shown in Fig. 2c; Fig. 4 shows in perspective another embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention connected to a tubular structural element in a position corresponding to that in Fig. 2a; Fig. 5 shows perspective and in dismantled state yet another embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention. The embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention shown in the dismantled state in Fig. 1 comprises a securing pin 1, a cap 2, a tumbler element 3, a securing plate 4 and a fixing strip 5 of flexible material. The securing pin 1 has a relatively long, straight part 6 having at its end a thickened part 7, and an end part 8 which is bent over at right angles to the long part 6. The cap 2 can be fitted in clamping fashion on the end of the flanged part 8 of the pin 1. The tumbler element 3 is essentially parallelepipedal in shape and of small thickness, and one of its narrow sides 9 is adapted to the shape of a sleeve part of a structural element against which said side 9 must be fitted. Each of the two narrow sides going out from the narrow side 9 has a knob-like protuberance 10 close to the narrow side 9. The protuberances 10 can be inserted in a locking manner through apertures 11 formed on the ends of the fastening strip 5. The diameter of the apertures 11 is smaller than the diameter of the protuberances 10. The connecting line between the protuberances 10 forms an axis of rotation for the tumbler element 3. The tumbler element 3 has a hole 12 with a centre line intersecting the connecting line between the protuberances 10. The tumbler element 3 also has an internal space in which the securing plate 4 can be pushed into the tumbler element 3 via an aperture 13 present on the narrow side 9, the centre line of a hole 14 formed in the securing plate 4 coinciding with the centre line of the hole 12. The diameter of the hole 14, and possibly the diameter of the hole 12 of the tumbler element 3, which could be made of a relatively soft plastic, is smaller than the diameter of the thickened part 7 and the external diameter of the cap 2. When the pin 1 has been pushed through the hole 12 of the tumbler element 3 and the cap 2 is placed over the end of the bent end part 8, the pin 1 cannot therefore come out of the hole 12 any more. Fig. 2 shows the coupling device according to Fig. 1 clamped by means of the clamping strip 5 around a sleeve part 15 of a structural element, in three different phases of coupling or uncoupling of the sleeve part 15 to or from an insertion part 16 of another structural element (Fig. 3). In the phase shown in Fig. 2a the sleeve part 15 isnot coupled to the insertion part 16. The pin 1 is resting with the thickened part 7 on one side of the tumbler element 3 and is hanging down vertically so that it can be rotated. The sleeve part 15 and the insertion part 16 have at least one pair of holes lying opposite each other when the parts are inserted, such as the pair 17, 18 and the pair 19, 20 with a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the thickened part 7 of the pin 1. In order to obtain the situation shown in Fig. 2b, in which the pin 1 is inserted through the holes 17 to 20, the tumbler element 3 is first turned upwards, so that the thickened part 7 is in front of the hole 17 of the sleeve part 15, following which, if the insertion part 16 is properly directed, the pin can be inserted through the holes 17, 20. The pin 1 can then be turned about the axis of its part pushed through the holes. When the tumbler element 3 is then turned downwards in the position shown in Fig. 2b, the position shown in Fig. 2c with locked or secured pin is obtained. This position is shown in elevation and on a larger scale also in Fig. 3, with parts 15, 16 shown in cross section. In this position the pin 1 cannot be displaced in any way. In the position shown in Fig. 2c there can be no misunderstanding about whether or not the parts 15, 16 are coupled. This can be seen from a distance. It can be seen even better if the side of the tumbler element 3 resting in Fig. 2c on the cap 2 is of a colour which contrasts with the colour of the sleeve part 15. The coupling device can be slid over the sleeve part 15 through use of the clamping strip 5. When the coupling device is not being used, such as during transportation, the coupling device can then be pushed further from the insertion aperture of the sleeve part 15 for the insertion part 16 thereof to a set of opposite holes, including a hole 21, into the sleeve part 15, following which the pin 1 is pushed through this set of holes, including the hole 21, and can then be locked by turning the tumbler element 3. Any problems as a result of the mobility of the pin, which cannot in fact be lost, during transport or storage of the structural elements of such coupling devices are thereby reduced. Fig. 3 also shows by dashed lines the position of the tumbler element 3 for the phase shown in Fig. 2b. It is pointed out that, instead of the cap 2 acting here as the seat for the tumbler element 3, the end of the end part 8 can be bent further to prevent loss from the tumbler element 3. Moreover, the end part 8 can be bent over so far that the tumbler element 3 can turn through an angle of approximately 180° in the situations shown in Figs. 2b and 2c. If the large sides of the tumbler element 3 then are in two different colours which contrast with the sleeve part 15, it is possible to see from a very great distance whether the pin 1 is locked. Fig. 4 shows in perspective another embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention in a position which is comparable to the position shown in Fig. 2a. The tumbler element 3′ has at the bottom side a seat 22 of such a shape that the pin 6 in the position of the coupling device shown hangs free in the bore of the tumbler element 3′. When in this position a force is exerted on the tumbler element 3′ the pin 6 will be able to continue moving freely, and the pin 6 will not then damage the edge part of the bore of the tumbler element 3′. The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is therefore more durable. Fig. 5 shows in perspective and in a dismantled state yet another embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention. This embodiment comprises a strip 5′ of fixed length which can be screwed to a tumbler element 3″ by means of screws 23 pushed through bores present in the ends of the strip 5′. Both ends of the pin 6′ have acquired a widened part by means of plastic deformation. Of course, such a pin 6′ can also be used in other embodiments of the coupling device, for example the embodiment of Fig. 1. It is, however, pointed out that a rapid and simple composition of the coupling device is possible through use of the cap 2 shown in Fig. 1. Instead of the cap 2, a pull ring fed through the relevant end of the pin could also be used. Instead of the clamping strip 5 shown, ach of the protuberances 10 of the tumbler element 3 can be provided with a strip of flexible material, one strip being provided with at least one knob-like projection, and the other strip being provided with a number of holes which are distributed along the length of the strip, and which can allow through in locking fashion a knob-like projection of the other strip. Instead of the knob-like projection, one strip can also be provided with a number of successive thickened parts, such as tooth-type projections running at right angles to the central axis of the one strip, and the other strip can be provided with a single bore for allowing through the one strip, the thickened parts ensuring a lock. Of course, it is also possible to use a single strip which has on one end part a series of thickened parts and on the other end a hole for allowing through the thickened parts, while the strip is conveyed through a bore in a coupling piece connected to the tumbler element 3. As an alternative, the tumbler element 3 can be fastened to the sleeve part 15 by a coupling piece in fixed fashion, for example by welding.

Claims: Coupling device for coupling two structural elements, one of which has a sleeve part (15) and the other has an insertion part (16) to be inserted in the sleeve part (15), while the sleeve part (15) and the insertion part (16) have at least one pair of holes (17-18; - 19-20) which are opposite each other when the parts (15, 16) are coupled and have centre lines which run essentially radially relative to the parts in order to permit insertion of a pin (1) via the holes crosswise through the parts (15, 16), an end part (8) of said pin (1) being lockable relative to the sleeve part (15) by means of locking means connected to the sleeve part (15) when the pin is inserted via the holes into the parts (15, 16) in which the lockable end part (8) of the pin is bent over, characterized in that the locking means comprise a substantially flat tumbler element (3, 3', 3") which is rotatable about an axis intersecting at right angles the centre line of the part of the pin (1) to be inserted into the parts (15, 16) and the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") has a hole (12) with a centre line intersecting the axis essentially at right angles and disposed at such a distance from the axis of rotation thereof that the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") is rotatable along the bent end part (8) of the inserted pin (1) between positions corresponding to the unlocked and the locked state of the pin (1). Coupling device according to claim 1, in which the part of the pin (1) inserted into the parts (15, 16) runs horizontally through the parts (15, 16), characterized in that the axis of rotation of the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") runs horizontally and below the part of the pin (1) inserted into the parts (15, 16). Coupling device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the pin (1) has at each end thereof a stop (2, 7) to prevent the passage of each end through the locking means, characterized in that each stop is formed by a widened part (2, 7). Coupling device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the widened part is formed on the bent end part of the pin (1) by a cap (2) disposed in clamping fashion on the end thereof. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bent end part (8) of the pin (1) is bent over at right angles, and the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") can turn through an angle of approximately 90° over the bent end part (8) of the pin (1) when the pin (1) is inserted. Coupling device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") has at the side of the bent end part (8) of the pin a seat (22) which rests against the sleeve part (15) in the position of the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") which corresponds to the unlocked position of the pin (1). Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by clamping means to be fitted round the sleeve part (15) which are suitable for clamping the locking means to the sleeve part (15). Coupling device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the clamping means comprise a flexible strip (5, 5'). Coupling device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the strip (5, 5') is of adjustable length. Coupling device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the strip (5, 5') or the component parts thereof has (have) one or more knobs and one or more holes to allow through a knob, for the purpose of being able to obtain a joint connection therewith. Coupling device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the strip (5, 5') or the component parts thereof has (have) a number of thickened parts and a bore for allowing through the strip part with the thickened parts, in order thereby to obtain a stop connection. Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one side of the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") which is visible when the tumbler element (3, 3', 3") is turned by one its sides against the sleeve part (15) is of a colour which contrasts with the colour of the sleeve part (15).

Inventors: VAN LEEUWEN, MARTIN
Applicants: INDUSTRIE EN HANDELSONDERNEMING BIJSTEDE B.V.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F16B7
IPC codes: E04G25, F16B7, F16B21, E04G7, F16B41