Patent GB-910225-A (GB)
Title: Quick acting coupling for fluid pipe
IPC: F16K31/56
Filed: 1961-05-24
Abstract: 910,225. Pipe couplings. MULLER, J. May 24, 1961 [May 24, 1960], No. 18737/61. Class 99(1). [Also in Group XXIX] A pipe coupling comprises a hollow body 1 having means at one end adapted to be rapidly coupled to a connector on a tank or conduit and a branch 2 to which a pipe 3 may be connected, a valve 5 within the body co-operating with a seating 10 adjacent the said one end of the body to control the flow of fluid between the said one end and the branch, manually-operated means for controlling the position of the valve. A manually-operated lock to lock the valve in its closed position, and means interconnecting the lock with the rapid coupling means at the said one end of the body, so arranged that the valve cannot be unlocked and opened until the coupling has been coupled to the connector and 'the coupling cannot be uncoupled from the connector until the valve has been locked in the closed position. As shown, the upper part 4 of the body contains a tubular member 7 to which is attached a sleeve 8 carrying a resilient seal 9 shaped to provide a seat 10 for the valve, the member 7 being provided with a flange 7a having teeth for retaining a ring 13 thereon. The ring 13 has projections 13a and stepped recesses cut to depths 13b, 13c. Surrounding the part 4 is a tubular member 14 having a flange 14a provided with slots 14b which, together with the projections 13a, are arranged and shaped to suit inter-engaging parts on the connector; a stack 16 of deformed washers constituting a spring are fixed to the member 14. The valve stem 6 is connected by anon-rotatable but axially movable joint 21 to a control spindle 19 terminating in a hand-wheel 20 and engaged by a screw-thread 19a with a hollow piston-like member 23 movable axially in the bore of the body and provided with an annular joint 25 and internal gland 23a. A part of the spindle passes through a sleeve 26 rotatably mounted in an end cap 30, carrying a hand-wheel 27, and engaging by a screw-thread 26a a piston-like member 28. Rotation of the spindle by the hand-wheel 20 causes the member 23 to be moved upwardly or downwardly, and by rotating the handwheel 27 and thereby the sleeve 26, the member 28 is also caused to move upwardly and downwardly within the body. The members 23, 28 form abutments for a spring 29 and rotation of these members during axial displacement thereof is prevented by lugs 31, 32 on the members and guided in slots 33, 34 in the wall of the body. A locking device to prevent opening of the valve when the coupling is disconnected from the connector comprises two sliding bars 35 each provided with a recessed head 35a, and lugs 35c, 35d, the lugs 35c engaging the stack of washers 16 and the lugs 35d engaging a stirrup 37 carrying a roller 39 in contact with a snail cam 41 rotatable by a handle 42 to move the stirrup downwardly and carry therewith the bars 35. On the rear face of the cam is an inclined surface 43 which bears on a locking pin 44 engageable in a Vee groove 45 in the valve stem 6. When the valve is in the locked position the ring 13 is engaged by slots in the heads 35a of the bars 35 and by turning the coupling by the handwheel 46 to interengage the coupling and connector the ring is placed with respect to the body so as to position the heads 35a of the bars within the slots 13c, a ball detent engageable with end stops 50, 51 ensuring that the ring is rotated through the appropriate angle to place the ring in the unlocked position. Disengagement of the bars 35 allows the stirrup to be lowered by rotation of the cam 41 which frees the pin 44 to release the valve stem when the valve can be opened to the desired extent. Any desired pressure and/or rate of flow is or are obtained by displacement of the pistons 23, 28 with respect to the screwthreads 19a, 26a by operating the handwheels 20, 27, operation of the handwheel 20 which acts on the piston 23 moving the valve until the pressure of the fluid and that of the spring 29 are balanced. Graduations 52, 53 at the sides of the slots 32, 33 co-operate with markings on the lugs 31, 32 of the pistons 23, 28 and permit regulation of the rate of flow and pressure to predetermined levels.