Patent Publication Number: US-2010127198-A1

Title: Quick-coupling valve, particularly for pressurized fluids

Description:
The present invention relates to a quick-coupling valve, particularly for pressurized fluids. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Quick-coupling valves for pressurized fluids, particularly for gases such as for example air, are currently known which are designed to be interposed between a supply hose, in which for example pressurized air is injected by a compressor, and a user device, such as for example an airbrush or an atomizer. 
     These known valves comprise, at a first end, a threaded union for reversible fixing to a supply hose and, at the opposite second end, the access to quick-coupling means for a corresponding tubular male element which is rigidly coupled to a delivery hose which is associated with a user device or is part of the user device itself. 
     Further, these known valves are generally shaped internally so as to have a first intake chamber for the pressurized fluid and a contiguous second discharge chamber, such two chambers being separated by flow control means, which are functionally associated with the quick-coupling means and are designed to block the fluid, preventing it from passing through the valve when the male element is not inserted in the valve. 
     The quick-coupling means are constituted by a tubular body provided with substantially radial holes for accommodating locking balls; when the male element is not inserted, the balls are pushed radially toward the outside of the tubular body by an annular side wall, which in turn is pushed in an axial direction toward the intake port of the tubular body by a contrast spring; when the male element is inserted, its tip pushes downward the annular side wall that retains the balls, and such balls are pushed so as to exit partially from the holes to enter a corresponding groove formed on the male element; the exit of the balls in a radial direction toward the inside of the tubular body is assisted also by an outer jacket, inside which the tubular body is arranged, such jacket being free to perform an axial translational motion with respect to the tubular body. 
     An additional contrast spring is interposed between the outer jacket and the tubular body and tends to push the outer jacket toward the port of the tubular body. 
     The outer jacket, in the part in which it surrounds the holes for the balls of the tubular body, has an engagement region, which has a first inside diameter which is smaller than a contiguous disengagement region which has a second inside diameter which is larger than the first diameter; such outer jacket is thus shaped so that when the male element pushes inward the annular side wall and the balls are free to move, the jacket rises with respect to the tubular body, pushing, with the engagement region, the balls radially toward the inside of the tubular body, where the balls enter the corresponding annular slot on the male element. 
     To disengage such coupling means, one therefore acts by producing the translational motion of the outer jacket away from the port of the tubular body and by overcoming the contrast force developed by the second additional spring. 
     By translating the outer jacket in this manner, the balls find themselves at the disengagement region, which has a larger diameter, where they are free to snap out of the slot of the male element, which at the same time is pushed outward by the compressed spring that supports the annular side wall. 
     Generally, in known types of valve, the insertion of the male element causes also the opening of flow control means, which allow the passage of the pressurized fluid from the compressor toward the user device. 
     Although these quick-coupling valves are widespread and appreciated, they do not allow to adjust the flow-rate of the fluid, since such known flow control means are substantially of the “open or closed” type, i.e., when the male element is inserted, the pressurized fluid is free to pass through the valve, and when the male element is not inserted the passage of the pressurized fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber is instead prevented. 
     Flow throttling is therefore assigned either to the management of the compressor or to the adjustment means, if any, of the user device; however, the former may often be in a remote position with respect to the user device, while such user device may or may not be provided with the adjustment means, or may have them but not with the characteristics required to adapt the flow to a particular application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to provide a quick-coupling valve particularly for pressurized fluids which is capable of obviating the above-mentioned drawbacks of known types of valve. 
     Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a quick-coupling valve which allows a better management of the flow-rate of the pressurized fluid. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve which has the same safety characteristics as known valves. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve which can be used easily and intuitively even without particular prior teachings. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which is simple to assemble like known types of valve. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick-coupling valve particularly for pressurized fluids which can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies. 
     This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a quick-coupling valve, particularly for pressurized fluids, of the type which comprises, at a first end, a threaded coupling for reversible fixing to a supply hose and, at the second opposite end, the access to quick-coupling means for a corresponding tubular male element, said valve having internally a first intake chamber for the pressurized fluid and a contiguous second discharge chamber, said two chambers being separated by reversible flow control means intended to block the fluid, preventing it from passing through the valve when the male element is not inserted in the valve, said valve comprising means which are adapted to prevent the uncoupling of said male element when the valve is open and also comprising venting means for safe uncoupling of the closed valve, said valve being characterized in that it comprises means, associated with said flow control means, for throttling the flow that passes from said first chamber to said second chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a valve according to the invention in the closed configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the valve according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the valve according to the invention in the closed configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a partially sectional side view of the valve according to the invention in the open configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a detail of the flow throttling means; 
         FIG. 6  is the sectional view indicated by the line VI-VI in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is the sectional view indicated by the line VII-VII in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a detail of the valve according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures, a quick-coupling valve, particularly for pressurized fluids according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
     The valve  10  comprises, at a first end, a threaded union  11  for reversible fixing to a supply hose and, at the second opposite end, the access to quick-coupling means  12 , described in greater detail hereinafter, for a corresponding tubular male element  13 , the latter to be understood as being of a per se known type. 
     The valve  10  is provided internally with a first intake chamber  15  for the pressurized fluid, for example air, the first chamber  15  being reached by the fluid from a supply channel  16  which is closed axially and is provided with holes  17  in a radial direction which connect the union  11  to the first chamber  15 . 
     A second discharge chamber  18  is axially contiguous to the first chamber  15 . 
     The two chambers are separated by reversible flow control means, which are adapted to block the fluid, preventing it from passing through the valve  10  when the male element  13  is not inserted in the valve  10 . 
     The valve has means, associated with the flow control means, for throttling the flow that passes from the first chamber  15  to the second chamber  18 . 
     In this embodiment of the invention, which is an exemplifying embodiment which does not limit its scope, the flow control means and the throttling means comprise a central tubular body  20 , which is constituted by a cup-shaped part  21  and by a tubular stem  22 , which protrudes from the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21  coaxially thereto, and by an annular body  25 , which is contoured so as to surround the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21  and a portion of the tubular stem  22 . 
     The tubular stem  22 , provided monolithically with the cup-shaped part  21 , constitutes a portion of the supply channel  16  and the holes  17  that connect the channel  16  to the first chamber  15  are provided thereon. 
     The union  11  is screwed to the free end of the stem  22 . 
     The central compartment of the cup-shaped part  21  provides the second chamber  18  for the discharge of the pressurized fluid. 
     Two openings  24  are formed on the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21  of the central body  20  and are diametrically opposite in a perimetric position for the passage of the pressurized fluid. 
     The annular body  25  is provided internally, in a substantially intermediate region in an axial direction, with a flow control and throttling shoulder  26 , in which two second openings  27  are formed. 
     The shoulder  26  surrounds the stem  22 , arranging itself adjacent to the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21 , and between it and the holes  17  for the intake of fluid into the first chamber  15 , forming between itself and the union  11 , which is screwed to the free end of the stem  22 , the first chamber  15 . 
     The annular body  25  can rotate with respect to the central tubular body  20  between two end positions for full opening and full closure. 
     The full closure position is provided by turning the annular body  25  until the second openings  27  affect respective portions without openings of the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21 , i.e., they do not affect at all the first openings  24  of the bottom  23 ; this position is exemplified in  FIG. 3  and in the corresponding cross-section of  FIG. 6 . 
     By turning the annular body  25 , the second openings  27  begin to affect the first openings  24 , increasingly as one proceeds with the relative rotation in the same direction, until the second openings  27  are arranged so as to affect entirely the first openings  24 , defining the fully open position of the valve  10 , which is shown in  FIG. 4  and in the corresponding sectional view of  FIG. 7 . 
     Therefore, the relative rotation between the internal shoulder  26  of the annular body  25  and the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21  of the central tubular body  20  produces the throttling of the flow of pressurized fluid between the two fully open and fully closed positions. 
     The internal shoulder  26  is covered with a sealing layer  28 . 
     The collar  29  of the annular body  25 , adapted to surround the cup-shaped part  21 , has two mutually opposite portions  30  in outward relief in a radial direction, each of which is matched by a recess  31  on the inside of the collar  29 . 
     The relief portions  30 , during the rotation between the annular body  25  to which they belong and the central tubular body  20 , slide and rest in a guiding and stroke limiting slot  32  which is formed within a facing edge  33  of an outer jacket  34 . 
     The outer jacket  34  is intended to be manipulated by a user and is associated with the central tubular body  20  so that the jacket and the body jointly rotate but can perform a translational motion with respect to each other in an axial direction; this is allowed by two mutually opposite guiding hollows  38 , which are provided inside the jacket  34 , and two corresponding protrusions  39 , which expand radially from the cup-shaped part  21  of the central body  20 . 
     The valve  10  also comprises means adapted to prevent the uncoupling of such male element when such valve is opened, and also comprises venting means for the safe uncoupling of the closed valve. 
     The means for preventing the uncoupling are constituted by the guiding slots  32 ; the relief portions  30  in fact are higher than the corresponding axial height of the slots  32 ; this prevents the lowering of the jacket  34  toward the annular body  25 , a movement which would release the coupling balls  36  and would allow the uncoupling of the male element  13 , until the rotation of the annular body  25  moves the protrusions  30  at the stroke limit for flow control. 
     At the flow control stroke limit region  32   a , each one of the guiding slots  32  lies in an axial direction along a portion  35  which allows the sliding in an axial direction of the protrusions  30  and the consequent lowering of the jacket  34 , releasing the balls  36  and providing safe uncoupling of the male element  13 . 
     The venting means for safe uncoupling of the male element  13  are constituted by a venting passage  40 , shown in  FIG. 8 , which is formed proximate to the flow control stroke limit, but in a position in which completed blocking has already occurred, on the sealing layer  28 . 
     The venting passage  40  connects the second chamber  18 , which, when blocking has occurred, the user device is switched off and the male element  13  is still engaged, is generally under pressure, with a corresponding hollow  31  of the collar  29  of the annular body  25 . 
     The passage  40  with the hollow  31  and the jacket  34  form a labyrinth-like discharge duct for the pressurized fluid, which is adapted to allow the outflow of the pressurized air in a safe and controlled manner, preventing, during uncoupling, said fluid from escaping in an uncontrolled manner which is dangerous for the user. 
     The quick-coupling means, of a per se known type, are constituted, in the exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention described here, by a tubular ball supporting body  42  provided with substantially radial holes  43  for accommodating the locking balls  36 ; when the male element  13  is not inserted, the balls  36  are pushed radially toward the outside of the tubular body  42  by an annular side wall  44 , which in turn is pushed in an axial direction toward the intake port of the tubular body  42  by a first contrast spring  45  by way of the interposition of an abutment ring  46  for a seal  47 . 
     When the male element  13  is inserted, its tip pushes downward the annular side wall  44 , which retains the balls  36 , and said balls are pushed so as to exit partially from the holes  43  to enter a corresponding groove, not shown for the sake of simplicity, which is provided on the male element  13 . 
     The outer jacket  34  also cooperates with the exit of the balls in a radial direction toward the inside of the tubular body  42 , and the ball supporting tubular body  42  is arranged inside such jacket and is fixed axially to the central tubular body  20 ; as already described above, the jacket  34  is free to perform an axial translational motion with respect to the ball supporting tubular body  42  and the central tubular body  20 . 
     A second contrast spring  48  is interposed between the outer jacket  34  and the ball supporting tubular body  42  and tends to push the outer jacket  34  toward the outer end of the ball supporting body  42 . 
     The outer jacket  34 , in the part in which it surrounds the holes  43  for the balls  36  of the ball supporting body  42 , has an engagement region  49 , which has a first inside diameter which is smaller than a contiguous disengagement region  50  which has a second inside diameter larger than the first one; the outer jacket  34  is thus contoured so that when the male element  13  pushes inward the annular shoulder  44  and the balls  36  are free to move, it rises with respect to the ball supporting body  42 , pushing radially, with the engagement region  49 , the balls  36  toward the inside of the body  42 , where the balls  36  enter the corresponding annular slot on the male element. 
     For the disengagement of such coupling means, one acts therefore by producing the translational motion of the outer jacket  34  away from the outer end of the ball supporting body  42  and toward the annular body  25 , overcoming the contrast force developed by the second additional spring  48 . 
     By producing the translational motion of the outer jacket  34  in this manner, the balls  36  are located at the disengagement region  50 , which has a larger diameter, at which they are free to snap out of the slot of the male element, which at the same time is pushed outward by the first compressed spring  45  which supports the annular side wall  44 . 
     In practice it has been found that the invention thus described achieves the intended aim and objects. 
     In particular, the present invention provides a quick-coupling valve  10  which allows better management of the flow-rate of the pressurized fluid by way of the possibility to adjust the flow-rate allowed by the rotary coupling between the bottom  23  of the cup-shaped part  21  of the central body  20 , with its first openings  24 , and the adjacent shoulder  26  of the annular body  25 , with its second openings  27 . 
     In fact, by mutually turning the cup-shaped part  21  and the annular body  25 , the mutual overlap is achieved, according to requirements, to a greater or smaller extent, of the first openings and the second openings, thus achieving an adjustable flow between the first chamber  15 , formed below the shoulder  26 , and the second chamber  18 , formed above the bottom of the cup-shaped part  21  and inside it. 
     Further, the invention provides a valve which has the same safety characteristics as known valves, having means for preventing disengagement and venting means as described above. 
     Moreover, the present invention provides a valve which can be used easily and intuitively even without particular prior teachings, since it is sufficient, in order to throttle the flow, to act by turning with one hand the annular body  25  with respect to the outer jacket  34 , which is kept stationary with the user&#39;s other hand. 
     Moreover, the present invention provides a valve which is simple to assemble like known valves, since it is constituted substantially by a tubular central body  20  and a ball supporting tubular body  42  and a union  11  which are screwed to the central body  20  and between which the annular body  25 , able to rotate about the central tubular body  20 , and the outer chamber  34 , able to perform a translational motion with respect to the central tubular body  20 , are arranged. 
     Moreover, the invention provides a quick-coupling valve particularly for pressurized fluids which can be manufactured cheaply with known systems and technologies. 
     The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
     In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. 
     The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2007A000181 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.