AU2012216700A1

AU2012216700A1 - Hose coupling assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2012216700A1
Application number: AU2012216700A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Simone Rapacchi
Original assignee: Alfagomma Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Alfagomma Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-06
Filing date: 2012-09-06
Publication date: 2014-03-20

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates broadly to a hose coupling assembly 10 comprising a male hose fitting 12 configured to connect to a female hose fitting 14 utilising an intermediate coupling fitting 16. The male hose fitting 12 includes a male head 18 5 configured to be received and rotated within the coupling fitting 16. The coupling fitting 16 includes a sleeve 20 having an opening at one end shaped complementary to the male head 18 of the male hose fitting 12. The coupling fitting 16 as fitted to the female hose fitting 14 and arranged to axially receive the male head 18 within the sleeve 16 via the complementary shaped opening 22. The coupling fitting 16 is then 10 rotated to retain the male head 18 within the sleeve 16 for connection of the male and female hose fittings 12/14/. SPEC-942081 docx c~cc

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Alfagomma Australia Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): Simone Rapacchi Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: HOSE COUPLING ASSEMBLY Our Ref: 942081 POF Code: 264028/264028 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): -1 6008q 2 HOSE COUPLING ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to a hose coupling assembly and relates 5 particularly, although not exclusively, to a coupling assembly for interconnection of hydraulic hoses. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In their application with hydraulic hoses the staple-lock coupling is used widely in the 10 industry. As shown in figure 1 the staple-lock coupling of the prior art consists of three components, namely male and female inserts 2 and 3 and a staple 4. Both the male and female inserts 2/3 are shaped circular and received within each other in a mating relationship. The female insert 3 includes two staple holes 5a/b for receiving the staple 4. The male insert 2 includes an annular shoulder 6 which abuts the staple 15 4 inserted into the female insert 3 with the male and female inserts 2/3 coupled together. The staple 4 thus interconnects the male and female inserts 2/3 of this prior art arrangement. The staple-lock coupling 1 suffers from at least the following drawbacks: !0 1. It requires tooling for both its assembly and disassembly; 2. The staple can under load dislodge and present a dangerous projectile; 3. The staple protrudes either side of the coupling and is susceptible to fouling. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose coupling assembly comprising: a male hose fitting including a male head; a female hose fitting configured to connect with the male hose fitting; 30 a coupling fitting including a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped complementary to the male head of the male hose fitting, the coupling fitting when fitted to the female hose fitting being arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling SPEC-942081.docx 3 fitting provides retention of the male head within the sleeve and connection of the male and female hose fittings. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a hose coupling fitting 5 being adapted to interconnect male and female hose fittings, the hose coupling fitting comprising a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped complementary to a male head of the male hose fitting, the coupling fitting when fitted to the female hose fitting being arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling fitting provides 10 retention of the male head within the sleeve and connection of the male and female hose fittings. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a hose coupling assembly comprising: 15 a hose fitting including a male head; a coupling fitting including a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped complementary to the male head of the hose fitting, the coupling fitting being arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling fitting provides retention of the !0 male head within the sleeve. Preferably the hose coupling assembly also comprises an adaptor connected to the coupling fitting. More preferably the hose fitting is a male hose fitting and the adaptor includes a female recess designed to mate with the male hose fitting. More 25 preferably the coupling fitting is rotationally coupled to the adaptor. Preferably the coupling fitting includes the male head in the form of an annular flange. More preferably the annular flange is shaped substantially triangular. 30 Preferably the coupling fitting includes an internal cavity defined by the sleeve which at said one end adjacent the complementary shaped opening forms one or more shoulders configured to abut the annular flange of the hose fitting for retention of the male head within the cavity. SPEC-942081.dox 4 Preferably the coupling fitting also includes a collar at an opposite end of the sleeve, the collar being configured to slidably receive a stem of the female hose fitting when fitted to the coupling fitting. More preferably the female hose fitting includes an enlarged head connected to the stem and configured to be received within the cavity 5 of the coupling fitting via the complementary shaped opening for abutment with the collar of the coupling fitting. Preferably the hose coupling assembly also comprises locking means arranged to operatively engage the coupling fitting to prevent its further rotation relative to the 10 hose fitting having the male head to thus maintain retention of the male head within the sleeve. Preferably the locking means includes a locking ring having one or more axial projections designed to at least partly occupy void spaces in the complementary 15 shaped opening of the coupling fitting to restrict its further rotation relative to the hose fitting having the male head. More preferably the locking means also includes a retaining clip configured to engage the hose fitting having the male head to restrict axial movement of the locking ring to thus retain the locking ring with its axial projections within the void spaces. 20 Generally the hose coupling assembly is a hydraulic hose coupling assembly. Alternatively it is a pneumatic hose coupling assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment of a hose coupling assembly will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is various part sectional views of a prior art hose coupling assembly; 30 Figure 2A is a part sectional view of a hose coupling assembly in its assembled configuration according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2B is exploded part sectional and end views of the hose coupling assembly of figure 2A; SPEC-942081. doc 5 Figure 3 is part sectional and end views of a male hose fitting taken from the hose coupling assembly of figure 2A; Figure 4 is part sectional and end views of a female hose fitting taken from the hose coupling assembly of figure 2A; 5 Figure 5 is part sectional and end views of a coupling fitting taken from the hose coupling assembly of figure 2A; and Figure 6 is part sectional and end views of locking means taken from the hose coupling assembly of figure 2A; Figure 7A is a part sectional view of a hose coupling assembly in its assembled 10 configuration according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 7B is exploded part sectional and end views of the hose coupling assembly of figure 7A; Figure 8A is a part sectional view of a hose coupling assembly in its assembled configuration according to a further embodiment of the invention; 15 Figure 88 is exploded part sectional and end views of the hose coupling assembly of figure 8A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As best shown in figures 2A and 2B there is a hose coupling assembly 10 which in ?0 this embodiment is a hydraulic hose coupling assembly. The assembly 10 generally comprises a male hose fitting 12 configured to connect with a female hose fitting 14 utilising an intermediate coupling fitting 16. The male hose fitting 12 includes a male head 18 configured to be received and rotate within the coupling fitting 16. The coupling fitting 16 includes a sleeve 20 having an opening 22 at one end shaped 25 complementary to the male head 18 of the male hose fitting 12. The coupling fitting 16 is fitted to the female hose fitting 14 and arranged to axially receive the male head 18 within the sleeve 16 via the complementary shaped opening 22. The coupling fitting 16 is then rotated to retain the male head 18 within the sleeve 16 for connection of the male and female hose fittings 12/14. 30 In this embodiment the male hose fitting 12 includes the male head 18 in the form of a triangular-shaped annular flange. The complementary shaped opening 22 of the coupling fitting 16 is thus also triangular-shaped. The coupling fitting 16 includes an internal cavity 24 defined by the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 at its end adjacent the SPEC-942081.docx 6 triangular opening 22 forms three shoulders such as 26A configured to abut the triangular flange 18 of the male hose fitting 12 for retention of the flange 18 within the cavity 24. The coupling fitting 16 at an opposite end of the sleeve 20 includes a collar 28 configured to slidably receive a stem 30 of the female hose fitting 14 when fitted to 5 the coupling fitting 16. The female hose fitting 14 includes an enlarged head 32 connected to the stem 30. The enlarged head 32 is in profile shaped circular and sized to be received within the cavity 24 of the coupling fitting 16 via the complementary shaped opening 22 for abutment with the collar 28 of the coupling fitting 16. 10 The hose coupling assembly 10 also comprises locking means 34 which in this embodiment is in the form of a locking ring. The locking ring 34 has three axial projections such as 36A which with the hose coupling assembly 10 in its assembled configuration are designed to occupy void spaces in the complementary shaped 15 opening 22 of the coupling fitting 16. That is, the axial projections such as 36A restrict the coupling fitting 16 from further rotation relative to the male hose fitting 12 which could otherwise rotate and axially release the male hose fitting 12. This would occur in the event that the triangular flange 18 of the male hose fitting 12 aligns rotationally with the complementary shaped opening 22 of the coupling fitting 16. The 20 locking means of this embodiment also includes a retaining clip 40 configured to engage the male hose fitting 12 to restrict or prevent axial movement of the locking ring 34 to thus retain it with its axial projections 36A within the void space of the complementary shaped opening 22. 25 Figures 3 to 6 show the various component parts of the hose coupling assembly 10 of this embodiment in part sectional and end views. The components are designated with the previous reference numerals applicable to the corresponding parts of this embodiment of the hose coupling assembly 10. 30 In order to better understand this embodiment of the invention the steps involved in assembly of the hose coupling assembly 10 will now be described. The general steps involved are as follows: 1. The male hose fitting 12 is axially connected to the female hose fitting 14; SPEC-942081docx 7 2. The coupling fitting 16 is slid along the stem 30 of the female hose fitting 14 to receive the male head 18 of the male hose fitting 12 within the sleeve 20 of the coupling fitting 16 via its complementary shaped opening 22; 3. The coupling fitting 16 is rotated relative to the male hose fitting 12 to retain the 5 male head 18 within the sleeve 20; 4. The locking ring 34 is slid axially along the male hose fitting 12 and its axial projections such as 36A inserted into the void spaces in the complementary shaped opening 22 of the coupling fitting 16. 5. The retaining clip 40 is slid radially across the male hose fitting 12 to abut the 10 locking ring 34 thus retaining it in locking engagement with the coupling fitting 16; 6. The male and female hose fittings 12/14 are thus interconnected. In step 2 the collar 28 of the coupling fitting 16 abuts a stepped shoulder 42 in the 15 female hose fitting 14. The sleeve 20 of the coupling fitting 16 is dimensioned so the male head 18 of the male hose fitting 12 is at this stage received wholly within the cavity 24 of the coupling fitting 16. The triangular-shaped head fitting 18 of this embodiment is a clearance fit through the corresponding shaped opening 22 of the coupling fitting 16. !0 In step 3 the coupling fitting 16 is rotated around 600 relative to the male hose fitting 12. This rotation locates the triangular-shaped head fitting 18 in abutting engagement with each of the corresponding shoulders such as 26A of the coupling fitting 16. This abutment together with a similar abutment of the step shoulder 42 of the female hose 25 fitting 14 and the collar 28 of the coupling fitting 16 prevents axial retraction of the male hose fitting 12 from the female hose fitting 14, and vice versa. In step 4 the axial projections such as 36A of the locking ring 34 locate within the void spaces defined by the coupling fitting 16 and the male head 18 of the male hose 30 fitting 12. The locking ring 34 thus prevents further rotational movement of the coupling fitting 16 relative to the male hose fitting 12. In step 5 the retaining clip 40 locates within an annular groove 44 of the male hose fitting 12. The retaining clip 40 is in this example constructed of a resilient plastics SPEC-942081.docx 8 material which is shaped to snap fit within the annular groove 44. The retaining clip 40 prevents axial movement of the locking ring 34 relative to the male hose fitting 12 thereby holding the locking ring 34 in place. 5 It will be appreciated that the hose coupling assembly 10 permits rotational movement between the male and female hose fittings 12/14. In this embodiment the female hose fitting 14 can rotate about the male hose fitting 12 which moves together with the associated coupling fitting 16, locking ring 34 and retaining clip 40. It will be appreciated that depending on the design of the bearing surfaces rotation of the 10 coupling assembly 10 may only be possible at lower hose pressures. In another application the hose coupling assembly provides connection between a hose fitting and a joiner or a hose fitting and a manifold. In each of these applications the hose coupling assembly comprises a hose fitting including a male head which is 15 received within a coupling fitting associated with the manifold or joiner in a similar manner to the hose coupling assembly 10 of the previous embodiment. That is, the male head of the hose fitting is axially received within the sleeve of the coupling fitting via a complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling fitting provides retention of the male head within the sleeve and thus connection of the hose 0 fitting to the manifold or joiner. Figures 7A and 7B show an embodiment of the hose coupling assembly in its application in providing connection between a hose fitting and a joiner. In this embodiment the hose fitting is a male hose fitting 120A and the joiner is a 25 female/female adaptor 102 designed to connect the male hose fitting 120A to another male hose fitting 120B. The female/female adaptor 102 has a coupling fitting such as 160A rotationally coupled to it at both ends. The adaptor 102 at both ends includes a female recess such as 104A designed to mate with the corresponding male hose fitting 120A. For ease of reference and in order to avoid repetition those components 30 corresponding to components of the previous embodiment have been designated with an additional "0" in the reference numeral. The male hose fitting and its associated coupling fitting on the left hand side have been suffixed with "A" whereas the other male hose fitting and its associated coupling fitting have been suffixed with "B". SPEC-942081.docx 9 Otherwise, the general design and operation of this embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment. Figures 8A and 8B illustrate a further embodiment of the invention in its application in 5 providing connection between a hose fitting and a manifold such as 1002A. The hose coupling assembly 1000 of this further embodiment also comprises an adaptor such as 1004A threadably connected to the corresponding manifold 1002A. For ease of reference and in order to avoid repetition those components corresponding to components of the previous embodiment have been designated with an additional 10 "00" in the reference numeral. The male hose fitting and its associated coupling fitting on the left hand side have been suffixed with "A" whereas the other male hose fitting and its associated coupling fitting have been suffixed with "B". The coupling fitting 1600A is rotationally coupled to the threaded adaptor 1004A. The threaded adaptor 1004A includes a female recess 1008A designed to mate with the male hose fitting 15 1200A. Otherwise the design and operation of this further embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a hose coupling fitting adapted to interconnect male and female hose fittings in a similar manner to the described 0 embodiment of the hose coupling assembly. In this aspect of the invention the hose coupling fitting includes a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped complementary to a male head of the male hose fitting. The coupling fitting when fitted to the female hose fitting is arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening. Rotation of the coupling fitting then 25 provides retention of the male head within the sleeve and interconnection of the male and female hose fittings. Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the hose coupling 30 assembly has at least the following advantages: 1. The hose coupling assembly can be utilised without the need for tools; 2. The hose coupling assembly eliminates the staple of the prior art and thus is relatively safe with elimination of a potential projectile; SPEC-942081 docx 10 3. The hose coupling assembly still allows for rotation between the male and female hose fittings; 4. The hose coupling assembly lends itself to application at relatively high pressures for example with high pressure hydraulic systems. 5 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the male head of the male hose fitting and the corresponding opening in the female hose fitting may vary in shape. The male head and corresponding 10 opening may be square shaped and provide similar functionality to the triangular shaped head and opening of the described embodiment. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description. SPEC-942081.doca

Claims

1. A hose coupling assembly comprising: a male hose fitting including a male head; a female hose fitting configured to connect with the male hose fitting; 5 a coupling fitting including a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped complementary to the male head of the male hose fitting, the coupling fitting when fitted to the female hose fitting being arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling fitting provides retention of the male head within the sleeve and connection of the 10 male and female hose fittings.

2. A hose coupling assembly comprising: a hose fitting including a male head; a coupling fitting including a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped 15 complementary to the male head of the hose fitting, the coupling fitting being arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling fitting provides retention of the male head within the sleeve. ?0

3. A hose coupling assembly as defined in either of claims 1 or 2 also comprising an adaptor connected to the coupling fitting.

4. A hose coupling assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the hose fitting is a male hose fitting and the coupling assembly also comprises an adaptor connected to 25 the coupling fitting and including a female recess designed to mate with the male hose fitting.

5. A hose coupling assembly as defined in either of claims 3 or 4 wherein the coupling fitting is rotationally coupled to the adaptor. 30

6. A hose coupling assembly as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling fitting includes the male head in the form of an annular flange.

7. A hose coupling assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the annular flange is shaped substantially triangular. SPEC-942081.doc 12

8. A hose coupling assembly as defined in either of claims 6 or 7 wherein the coupling fitting includes an internal cavity defined by the sleeve which at said one end adjacent the complementary shaped opening forms one or more shoulders configured 5 to abut the annular flange of the hose fitting for retention of the male head within the cavity.

9. A hose coupling assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the coupling fitting also includes a collar at an opposite end of the sleeve, the collar being configured to 10 slidably receive a stem of a female hose fitting when fitted to the coupling fitting.

10 A hose coupling assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the female hose fitting includes an enlarged head connected to the stem and configured to be received within the cavity of the coupling fitting via the complementary shaped opening for 15 abutment with the collar of the coupling fitting.

11. A hose coupling assembly as defined in any one of the preceding claims also comprising locking means arranged to operatively engage the coupling fitting to prevent its further rotation relative to the hose fitting having the male head to thus !0 maintain retention of the male head within the sleeve.

12. A hose coupling assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein the locking means includes a locking ring having one or more axial projections designed to at least partly occupy void spaces in the complementary shaped opening of the coupling fitting to 25 restrict its further rotation relative to the hose fitting having the male head.

13. A hose coupling assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein the locking means also includes a retaining clip configured to engage the hose fitting having the male head to restrict axial movement of the locking ring to thus retain the locking ring with 30 its axial projections within the void spaces.

14. A hose coupling assembly as defined in any one of the preceding claims in the form of a hydraulic hose coupling assembly. SPEC-942081.docx 13

15. A hose coupling assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 13 in the form of a pneumatic hose coupling assembly.

16. A hose coupling fitting being adapted to interconnect male and female hose 5 fittings, the hose coupling fitting comprising a sleeve having an opening at one end shaped complementary to a male head of the male hose fitting, the coupling fitting when fitted to the female hose fitting being arranged to axially receive the male head within the sleeve via the complementary shaped opening whereupon rotation of the coupling fitting provides retention of the male head within the sleeve and connection 10 of the male and female hose fittings.

17. A hose coupling fitting as defined in claim 16 wherein the coupling fitting includes the male head in the form of an annular flange. 15

18. A hose coupling fitting as defined in claim 17 wherein the annular flange is shaped substantially triangular.

19. A hose coupling fitting as defined in either of claims 17 or 18 also comprising an internal cavity defined by the sleeve which at said one end adjacent the !0 complementary shaped opening forms one or more shoulders configured to abut the annular flange of the hose fitting for retention of the male head within the cavity.

20. A hose coupling fitting as defined in any one of claims 16 to 20 also comprising a collar at an opposite end of the sleeve, the collar being configured to slidably 25 receive a stem of the female hose fitting when fitted to the coupling fitting.

21. A hose coupling fitting as defined in claim 20 wherein the female hose fitting includes an enlarged head connected to the stem and configured to be received within a cavity of the coupling fitting via the complementary shaped opening for 30 abutment with the collar of the coupling fitting.

22. A hose coupling assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings with the exception of figure 1. SPEC-942081.docx 14

23. A hose coupling fitting substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings with the exception of figure 1. SPEC-942081 docx