Abstract:
A quick connect coupling including male and female elements that are adapted to fit axially in each other and each includes a valve that is displaced to an open position by engagement by a fixed pusher part of each element when they are being fitted together. The female element is provided with a locking member in which a part of the male element is received and which is reciprocally movable in a radial direction with respect to an axis of fit of the elements between two positions in which the locking member respectively allows or opposes the separation of the male and female elements and wherein the engaging surfaces of the valves and pusher parts is such that no open volumes or voids are created therein in which a liquid may collect during assembly or disassembly of the male and female elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a quick connection for removably joining of pipes conveying fluid under pressure, as well as to a use of such a connection. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   In the domain of connections, it is known, for example from FR-A-1 561 337, to provide in each element of a connection with a mobile valve elastically loaded or forced towards a position of closure of the flow through the corresponding element. Each of these valves is intended to be displaced, against the elastic load to which it is subjected, by a fixed part of the other element. This is generally referred to as a double-closure connection. Such connections have the advantage of limiting the risks of leakage to a maximum, insofar as the male element, on the one hand, and the female element, on the other hand, are open only when the act of fitting is sufficiently advanced to provoke the displacement of the afore-mentioned valves. These connections present the drawback that they are relatively difficult to maneuver insofar as the locking of the male and female elements in fitted position is effected by balls mounted in the female element and and that are engaged in a retaining groove made on the outer radial surface of the male element. The position of these balls is controlled by a ring or a sleeve arranged around the body of the female element and which must be displaced parallel to the direction of fitting, i.e. parallel to the forces of relative separation of the male and female elements due to the pressure of the fluid and to the means for elastically loading the valves. As a result, these known connections are sometimes difficult to maneuver, particularly when the pipes to which they are connected contain fluids under relatively high pressure or when the rings are soiled by greasy products. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,074 discloses a connection of which the male and female elements are each provided with a valve whose projecting parts come into abutment on each other, with the result that a dead volume is created between the valves, which, when the connection is opened, induces leakages. 
   FR-A-2 063 800 discloses a quick connection which, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, comprises male and female elements equipped with valves, while a tubular element interposed between these valves defines a dead volume generating drainings or leakages, particularly when the connection is opened. In addition, the elastic U-shaped blade used for locking the connection in fitted configuration is unreliable. 
   It is a more particular object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a novel quick connection of the double-closure type, whose manipulation is facilitated. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In that spirit, the invention relates to a quick connection for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid under pressure passes, this connection being constituted by two elements, male and female, adapted to fit axially in each other and each comprising a body inside which a valve is mobile, a fixed part of each element being adapted to displace the mobile valve of the other element when they are being fitted. This connection is characterized in that the female element is provided with a member in which may be introduced a part of the male element and which is mobile in translation in a radial direction with respect to the axis of fit of the male and female elements, between a first position in which this member allows the separation of these elements, and a second position where this member opposes a withdrawal of the male element from the female element, and in that, when the male and female elements are separated, their respective fixed part and mobile valve together define, respectively in the male element and in the female element, complementary volumes of which the opposite surfaces may be in surface abutment on each other. 
   With the invention, the coupling of the male and female elements can be controlled because of the mobile member which moves transversely with respect to the direction of fit. It should be noted that the invention goes against the understanding of the person skilled in the art who, up to the present time, tended to consider that a quick connection of double closure type required an axisymmetrical locking, such as obtained with balls, otherwise there was a risk of misalignment of the valves and fixed parts provided respectively on the male and female elements. It has been proven that the mobile retaining member, which exerts on the male element a transverse effort, is not incompatible with the functioning of the closure valves. 
   In addition, the invention makes it possible to minimize the dimensions of a connection according to the invention insofar as a member with transverse displacement necessitates less surface in order to be efficiently manipulated by a user than a sleeve such as the one known in the state of the art. In addition, the control effort which is exerted by the user on the control member is perpendicular to the axis of the connection, therefore with little risk of slippage. 
   Finally, because of surface abutment of the opposite surfaces of the fixed parts and of the mobile valves, the creation of a dead volume between the male and female elements is avoided, such a volume being capable of inducing leaks during the manipulation of the connection. 
   The connection of the invention therefore makes it possible efficiently to perform a triple function of double-closure, of easy manipulation and of tightness upon connection/disconnection, by a structure which is at the same time reliable, compact and economical. 
   According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects, a connection may incorporate one or more of the characteristics set forth in the dependent Claims. 
   The invention also relates to the use of at least one connection as described hereinabove for the creation of a circuit for circulation of heat-exchange fluid with a view to cooling electrical or electronic equipment. Such use takes advantage of the fact that the elements constituting a quick connection according to the invention may be of relatively modest dimensions and a large number can be mounted in a control box. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description of an embodiment of a quick connect coupling in accordance with the invention, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section through a quick connect coupling according to the invention, in a first configuration where its male and female elements are not yet coupled; 
       FIG. 2  is a section similar to  FIG. 1  on a smaller scale, during an intermediate step of coupling of the male and female elements; and 
       FIG. 3  is a section similar to  FIG. 2 , wherein the male and female elements are coupled. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, the connection or quick connect coupling shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  comprises a female element A and a male element or connector B, respectively connected to an upstream pipe C 1  and to a downstream pipe C 2 . The upstream pipe C 1  is, itself, connected to a source of fluid under pressure (not shown). 
   The outside shape of the body  1  of the female element A is cylindro-conical with circular base, centered on an axis X A –X′ A  which is also the longitudinal axis of a conduit  11  inside the body  1  and in which is disposed a valve  2  mobile along axis X A –X′ A  with respect to the body  1 . This valve  2  is intended to come into abutment against a seat  12  formed by an inner truncated surface of the body  1 . The valve  2  is subjected to an elastic effort or force F 1  exerted by a spring  3 , this effort F 1  tending to apply it against the seat  12 . The valve  2  is centered on a head  41  of a pusher element  4  of which the shank  42 , which is in one piece with the head  41 , extends up to a rear part  13  of the body  1  where it is maintained in position by three tabs  43  disposed substantially at 120° with respect to one another about axis X A –X′ A  and wedged by a ring  14  screwed in the body  1  and on which the pipe C 1  is connected. 
   The pusher element  4  is centered on axis X A –X′ A . 
   Two O-rings  5  and  5 ′ are respectively provided in a groove  15  made on the inner radial surface of the body  1  and in a groove  45  provided on the outer radial surface of the head  41 , these O-rings  5  and  5 ′ being intended to ensure a tight contact with the valve  2  when the latter is in abutment against the seat  12 . 
     16  denotes the front part of the body  1  in which is made an orifice  16   a  for the introduction of the male element B. The surface  26  of the valve  2  and the surface  46  of the pusher element  4  which are oriented towards the orifice  16   a  are substantially coplanar in the configuration of  FIG. 1  and perpendicular to axis X A –X′ A . 
   Between the head  41  and the orifice  16   a , the body  1  is provided with a housing  17  in which is arranged a lock button  7  elastically loaded by an effort F 2  exerted by a spring  8  arranged between the button  7  and the bottom  17   a  of the housing  17 . The displacement of the button  7  under the effect of the effort F 2  is limited by a stop  18 . The button  7  is reciprocally movable in the direction of the double arrow F 3  in  FIG. 1 , i.e. in a direction Y–Y′ perpendicular to axis X A –X′ A . It defines a volume V 7  in which a part of the male element B may be introduced and which extends from the orifice  16   a  up to the proximity of the surfaces  26  and  46 . 
   At the level of its inner radial surface  71  which defines the volume V 7 , the button  7  is provided with a tooth  72 . 
   The male element B is provided with a cylindro-conical body  101  inside which is formed a conduit  111  for circulation of fluid under pressure, this conduit being in communication with the pipe C 2 . The body  101  is centered on an axis X B –X′ B  which is also an axis of symmetry of the conduit  111  and which is provided to be aligned with axis X A –X′ A  when elements B and A are fitted in each other. Inside the body  101  is disposed a valve  102  elastically loaded by an effort or force F 101  exerted by a spring  103  and tending to return the valve  102  towards a configuration of closure of the opening of the conduit  111  on the front side of the element B, the valve  102  in that case being in abutment on an inner truncated seat  112  formed by the body  101 . 
   The valve  102  is provided with a groove  125  in which is arranged an O-ring  105  intended to come into abutment against the inner cylindrical surface of the front end of the body  101 . 
   The body  101  is provided with an outer radial flange  115  intended to interact with the tooth  72 , in a manner known from FR-A-2 514 855. 
   The front face  126  of the valve  102  and the front face  116  of the body  101  are substantially co-planar and perpendicular to axis X B –X′ B  in the configuration of  FIG. 1 . 
   The body  1  includes an outer radial surface  113  at its front end and  114  denotes the joining edge between this surface  113  and a fixed front engaging face  116 , this edge  114  being circular. 
   The face  115   a  of the flange  115  which is perpendicular to axis X B –X′ B , is intended to come into abutment against a face  72   a  of the tooth  72  which is perpendicular to axis X A –X′ A , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The outer radial surface of the body  101  comprises three cylindrical surfaces  101   a,    101   b  and  101   c  whose diameter decreases towards the front of the body  1  and which are connected in two&#39;s by truncated surfaces  101   d  and  101   e.    
   The male element B is intended to be introduced in the female element A in the direction of arrow F 4  in  FIG. 2 . In order to obtain an efficient guiding of the male and female elements along their axis of fit X–X′ which merges with axes X A –X′ A  and X B –X′ B  in that case superposed, the body  1  is provided with a truncated surface  18   a  which is formed in the vicinity of the stop  18  and intended to guide the edge  114  in order to centre it with respect to axis X A –X′ A  and allow it to slide over a cylindrical surface  18   b  of circular section, centered on axis X A –X′ A , which extends the surface  18   a  and whose radius is slightly greater than that of the surface  113 . The interaction of the zones or surfaces  18   a  and  18   b  on the one hand,  113  and  114  on the other hand, therefore allows a guiding of the front end of the element B when it is being introduced in the element A. 
   In addition, the circular surface  19  which defines the opening  16   a  has a radius substantially equal to that of the outer radial surface  115   b  of the flange  115  and to that of the surface  101   b,  this making it possible to obtain a guiding of the male element with respect to the female element when the flange  115  passes in the opening  16   a  and when that part of the body  101  surrounded by the surface  101   b  is in this opening, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   As is more particularly visible in  FIG. 2 , the movement of introduction of the element B in the element A has the effect of bringing the surfaces  116  and  126  into surface abutment against the surfaces  26  and  46 . If the movement of fit is continued and the configuration of  FIG. 3  is attained, the valve  2  is pushed by the front face  116  of the body  101 , while the valve  102  is pushed by the head  41  of the pusher element  4 , this making it possible to detach the valves  2  and  102  from their respective seats  12  and  112  and allowing the flow of fluid under pressure, as represented by arrows E in  FIG. 3 . 
   In order to attain this configuration, the inclined surface  113   c  of the flange  115  has pushed the tooth  72  against the effort F 2 , sliding over its inclined surface  72   c,  then the flange  115  is locked at the rear of the tooth  72 , as shown in this same  FIG. 3 . 
   While the male element B is being fitted in the female element A, the front part of the body  101  comes, by its planar front face  116 – 126 , into contact with the planar face  26 – 46  of the female element. The continuing movement of fit induces the passage of the flange  115  in the opening  16   a  then the slide of the outer radial surface  115   b  of the flange  115  over the lower part of the surface  71 . That part of the body  101  defined by the surface  101   b  then penetrates in the opening  16   a.  From the position of  FIG. 2 , the continuing movement of fit also induces a slide of the surface  113  over the surface  18   b.  In this way, an efficient guiding is obtained when the elements A and B are fitted together. 
   When the elements of the connection are to be uncoupled, it suffices to exert on the button  7  an effort F 5  directed towards the bottom  17   a,  which has the effect of retracting the tooth  72  with respect to the flange  115 , the valve  102  in that case being pushed by the effort F 1  and by the pressure of the fluid, this inducing a closure of the female element by return of the valve  2  towards its position of  FIG. 1  and a closure of the male element by recoil of its body  101 , which corresponds to a return of the valve  102  towards the seat  112 . 
   The invention may be employed to constitute a circuit for circulation of heat-exchange fluid in the direction of arrow E in  FIG. 3 , or in the opposite direction, with a view to cooling electrical or electronic equipment. In effect, with the invention, the device formed by the button  7  may be of relatively modest size, likewise the bodies  1  and  101 , this allowing large numbers of connecting elements A and B of small dimensions to be produced in order to create cooling systems for control boxes, particularly for data-processing servers. 
   The invention has been shown when employed in a connection of which the associated valves and fixed parts form, when the male and female elements are separated, planar faces  26 – 46  and  116 – 126  which are made, for one, in the female element and, for the other, in the male element and are perpendicular to axes X A –X′ A , X B –X′ B  and X–X′. This proves to be particularly advantageous as the imprisonment of fluid is eliminated during the fit. 
   However, a variant with stepped front faces may be envisaged, in accordance with an approach similar to that shown in FR-A-1 561 337. Similarly, variants with conical or spherical faces may be envisaged. Whether these surfaces be planar, stepped or skew, they define substantially complementary volumes, respectively on the male element and on the female element, this avoiding the creation of a dead volume capable of generating drainings or leakages during the successive openings/closures of the connection.