Patent GB-716610-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to pipe and hose couplings
Inventor: LOVE JOHN
IPC: F16K5/06
Filed: 1951-03-20
Abstract: 716,610. Pipe couplings. K.A.C., Ltd. March 14, 1952 [March 20, 1951], No. 6672/51. Class 99 (1). A self-sealing coupling comprises two tubular parts 6, 7, Fig. 2, each formed on or adapted to be connected to one of the pipes to be joined, hemi-spherical recesses 14, 15 in cup-shaped members 12, 13 integral with the parts 6, 7 respectively, forming a chamber in which is seated a spherical valve formed by two partspherical segments 4, 5 and provided with a diametrical cylindrical passage 19, the valve being rotatable into and out of register with bores 10, 11 in the parts 6, 7. A spindle 20 on the segment 5 passes through a boss 21 in the member 13, and a stub spindle 31 is housed in a recess 33 in the member 12, whereby the valve can rotate about an axis inclined to the bores; as shown the angle is 45 degrees. A lever 25 is provided for rotating the valve, and a catch 26 has a nose 27 engaging in either of two notches to lock the valve in the open or closed position. The segments 4, 5 are relatively located by pins 34, 35 engaging recesses 36, 37, the former being pointed and the latter flared to facilitate entry of the pins, and each segment is locked against accidental rotation in its coupling part when the parts are separated, by a catch 38, Fig. 4, normally seated in a recess 39 in the segment and pressed by a spring 41 into a recess 42 in the associated member 12 or 13 on separation : when the coupling is reassembled the pins 34, 35 pass through holes 43 in the catches which are thereby withdrawn. The parts 12, 13 are drawn together by a pin-andslot arrangement or, as shown, by means of semi-circular keys 51, 52, Fig. 2, one in each valve segment together forming a peripheral key engaging a keyway made up of two parts 53, 54 one in each member 12, 13. On rotating the valve from the Fig. 2 position in which each key is in the corresponding keyway, the keys enter the other slots and exert a clamping action. The leading ends of the keys and keyways may be flared to facilitate inter-engagement. Sealing-devices comprise an 0-ring 16 pressed into a recess 17 by a rib 18, and rings 44 pressed against the valve by resilient rings, 47. In modifications, (a) the coupling parts and the valve parts are identical, each valve having an operating-spindle, Fig. 7 (not shown), (b) one coupling part has a flange fitting over the end of the other part with sealing-rings between the telescoped parts, Fig. 8 (not shown), (c) the coupling parts are secured together by a union nut, Fig. 9 (not shown), (d) to avoid trapping fluid in the passage through the valve, the passage 19<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 11, is formed entirely in the segment 5 which has a semi-cylindrical bulge 65 engaging a recess in the segment 4, the ends of the passage being sealed by detachable seating-members 70, 71 secured within extensions 66, 67 of the member 13, the member 12 being cut away to receive the extensions, (e) the valve spindle is at right angles to the bore axis, the plane of contact of the valve segments is inclined to the bore axis, and two keys are provided, situated in planes at right angles to the axis of rotation of the valve, Fig. 13 (not shown), (f) the valve passage is in the form of an annular groove 19", Fig. 14, on the exterior of the valve, and (g) the annular groove is divided into two grooves one in each valve segment, Fig. 15 (not shown).