AU613190B2 - Releasable quick connect fitting - Google Patents

Description

FORM 10 6 OFRO62 COMMONWVALTH OF AUSTRAIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORI~GI NA L) FOR OFFICE USE., Class Int Class Compete specificatlon LodgedI: Aepted; Publi sihed: 4 00, 0 Relatod Art; of Applcnt: Addrqe4 for Service: Stratoflex, Inc, 21.0 Roborts Cut-Off Fort Worth Texi 76114 tJMTEOD STATES QF AN4ERICA Spruj,,o-n Ferguson, Pa~tent Attorney(, Level 33 St Martlns Tower, 31 Mhrket Street Sydney., New 5outh Wae 00, Autratta compiate Spt ftIcatioa fov* Inventioln onttifed#: Roloaha~o QUICk Connie(ct [Itthqn bm~t (01.110d of' )Qrf'onrvj it F Ido s r 11 tt c of this I uv n I ,bcl u(I al tho knwlto MONS 10/ ~09 84 L i I IY~L~i-^ I.

0 0011 0 0t o0 a0 0'000 4 0 0 0 0P 0000 0 0,00 00 00 00 0 0 0 0000 0 0 0 00 0 0 P 0 0t Og 0 00 00 0 000o a Abstract of the Disolosure This disclosure relates to a releasable quIck-connet ftting, conprising an insert having an annular lock groove and an annular release groove in the outer periphery thereof, the release groove having a smaller diameter than the lock groove. A receptacle has a bore for receiving the insert and an annular boroe groove Is formed in the bore. An annular retainer is mounted In one ot the lock and release grooves and 10 movoble to the other of the qr )oves. The insert Is movable to a ltk position in the receptaclo wherein the lock and bore grooves are stbantll In ,a4I alignment and the rtane exten4s into said lock and bore grooves, and m'ovable to a release position in the ;ecqtpacle wherln the relas and bare ,groove% are ub tiraly in rAtiJ4 4agnqMent and the retainer extends into the release groove. A $top t remnovably Qontected to one o the insert and re. eptaclo and engageable with tth*Ot other, the stop prevantng movemn t ot the insert to thd release position but enabling m4ovement to the release position Owhen removed.

0 00 ao0 0 o Field and Background of the Invention This invenztion relates to a quick-connect hose fitting which has an easy disconnect featuce, Quick-connect fittings are well known In the artr and one such design is described in G, N, Vyse U.S. patent Not 4#5650:92 dated January 21# 1986. Fittings of this type usually include a nipple or insert member which, during assembly, is inserted into a bore of a socket or receptacle part# and an expansible split ring exctends across annular grooves of the two parts In orher to seure them togetheri Quick-connect eitttngs have also been provided which Include means f~c enabling the two prta to be disasembled when desired. ?~or example# U9. patento Not 3o4S,1,76 and Not #000 40063,760 deoribe gittings incpluding screw-on oleeveo which# when retoved from the other pmrtos release the ring and thereby enable the fitting,, to b0 satnetm b 0 urther, U.S, patent No. 4,0Q5,3$9 dines a quick.

connect fitting including an expannibIle ring Eor holding the fitting parts t9ogther, and 4 novable cage for expad~nin the ring in Qrder to discanneot the fittiog.

A dis~idvanta9Q Of the prior art Clt n whfitlitch may be 0 disconnected in that the moohanisMs are relatively elaborate and thetreore expensive, Ths dsi5ne qWith sewlOW Onesleve$ have the Cuether disadvantage that pairts must be unacrewled In order to di onnect them, and the desicqni in patent No.

4rOa5t35q requrae a speoal cage around the fitting.

2.

It is a general object of this invention to trovide a quick-connect fitting which may be released or disconneoted when needed, and which is relatively inexpensive to cOnstruct and simple to operate, summary of the Invention A releasable quick-connect fitting according to the invention comprises tubular Insert and receptacle parts, the insert being movable into the receptacle on the axis of the parts. The insert has annular load, lock and release grooves 90o000 S° 10 in its outer periphery, the grooves respectively having first, 0000 0 C 0 second and third radial dimensons. The lock groove is between oo00 0 00 the load and release grooves and has a largee radial dimension oooo than the load and release grooves. An annular expansible 00 00 0 0 0 retainer tois mounted in one of the three grooves, The receptacle has a forward end with a first bore diameter which 0 0 is larger than the outer diameter ot the retainer when the 0 0 So retainer iC in either the load or release groovea but less than 0 Cu S0 O the outer diameter of the retainer when the retainer is in the 000 0 lock groove. The receptacle further han a push surface spaced Qa C, 20 rearwardly ~fe the forward end, the push surface having a 08000 second bore diameter which is less than the outer diameter o 00000: So the retainer when in any of the grooves, and the push surface moves the retainer from the load groove to the look groove during assembly of the parts, The titting further includes a removable stop for limiting the extent of forward movement of the insert into the receptacle during assembly to prevent the push surface from moving the retainer to the release groove.

When the stop is removed, however, the insert may be moved e

I

a 0 Oli U C U 3.

forwardly to a position where the push surface moves the retainer to the release groover thereeby enabling disassembly of the parts, Brief Description of the Drawings The invention wilt, be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures of the drawing, wherein; Fig, 1 is a view partially in section showing a titting in accordnce with the invention in' uncoipled form;, 10 Fig, 2 is an enlarge sectional view showing the fitting parts; Fig# 3 is an enlarged view showing the parts during assembly; rig. 4 to an enlarged view showing the parts in the locked position; Pig, S is an enarged view tsiowincl tio pa trtn in the releape position,, Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a Gtop of the tlttiUngp Vigo 7 is a plan view showing a oetainer of the fittiag: and ]pig, 8 shows an alternative forin of tho ftiiang Detailed Descripto of the in With reference first to rig. 1, a fitting In accordance with the invention comprises a tubular nipple or insert part It and a tubular r tepcfl or socket part 12, The parts 11 and 12 are leasably conntable to each other as will be described# and the eeft-hand end of the insert it and the tiqht-hand end ot the receptacle t,2 are dettgned tO be 4.

coupled in a conventional fashion to other parts (not shown) such as tubes, hose, etc. The parts 11 and 12 have interior passageways for the flow of a liquid or gas or for a vacuum.

The fitting further includes, mounted on the outer periphery of the insert l1, an annular 0-ring 13, an annular retainer 14 (also see Fig. a stop 16 (also see Fig. and a dust guard 17 which is optional.

With specific reference to fig. 2, the O-ring 13 is mounted in an annular groove 21 formed in the outer periphery i0 of the insert 11 adjacent the forward (or right-hand, as seen in rigs, I and 2) end of the insert. Also formed in the outer 6 Q periphery of the insert 1i, spaced to the rear of the groove 21, are a load groove 22 (which is closest to the groove 21), a lock groove 23 and a release groove 24. The three grooves 22, 23 and 24 are annular, and in this specific example the two grooves 22 and 24 have substantially the same diameter. The lock groove 23 Is located between the groovea 22 and 24 and its diameter is larger than the other two grooves.

In the space between the load groove 22 and the lock groove 23, the outer surface of the insert angles radially outwardly and rearwardly from the groove 22 and forms a slanted ramp surface 26 which terminates at an apex 27. The apex 27 is con ected with the bottomn of the lock groove 23 by another slanted surface 28 which slopes radially Outwardly and forwardly from the groove 23 to the apex 27. Between the two grooves 23 and 24, a surface 29 slantns radially outwardly and rearwardly from the groove 23 to an apex 31 which is essentially at the edge of the releau groove 24.

iiii

Y

I/ O i ci o o Rearwardly of the release groove 24 is a radially enlarged guide surface 32f and an annular groove 33 is formed in the guide surface 32. Another guide surface 34 is formed between the grooves 21 and 22F the guide surface 34 having a smaller diameter than the other guide surface 32.

The retalqer 14 in. the present specific example comprises a stretchable coiled metal spring which frms a circle aa shown in Fig. 7# Such a spring ise commonly referred to as a garter spring. A piece of a coiled spring may be cut and the two ends fastened toqether to form the 4nnular grra shown in Pig. 7. The inner 4iameter of the Cotainer 14 i siZed so that the retainer 14 to stretched alightly when it is mounted in the load groove 22 (the position shown in L4gLs, I and 2)* The fEittlg fuqther comprtisne the stop 16 which, in the prqsent example, is formed by a conventional E-ting oe the type that in normally mounted in a groove on a Rhaef in order to retaia parts on the shaft. The otop 18 io split# thereby forming an. opening 38 between its enaG# and the oides of the atop are sut iciertly flexible that the opening 35. ily Vis enlarged atightly to permit the stop to be onapLped into the groove 33 and also to be removed Erom the groove 13. Thle ivitevnal dimeter 06 the stop 16 is selecated so that the stco has a alight amount ot tension when it i mounted in the groove 3i, The dust cap 17 16 pre erably provlde d when tt fitting in at a loation where it I8 subject to dueht and diet. The dusti cai comiiprises an nanular radially qatendiag .2 0<, f, Ut '.2,i 'ir 0 plate portin 39 which Is positioned in the groove 33 immediately forwardly (to the right of, as seen in ritg. 2) of the stop 16. An annolar flange 40 is formed adjacent the outer end of the plate portion 39, the flange 40 extending forwardly and covering the adjacent end, of the receptacle 12 when, the parts are folly assembled as shown in Piq* 4, In instances where a dust cap is nOt required, the cap 1? may be dispensed with and, In this Instance# the stop 16 shQud be located at the position where the dust cap 17 Ui tresently shown In r~q, 2, Vthis mby be aoplised ~y shortening the ax4al dimension 0 U G) of the groove 33 -oa that the stop I$ Will be locate4 to the Q right of its position shown in Wig. 2, or the ntop 16 may be positioned in the groove 33 wherq the plate 3 oC the dust cap is illustrated in Fig. 2 and a spacer (not ohown) p tltoned in the groove 33 to the left oe the Eotop 1G.

The receptacle 12 comdrieo a forwacd OnI 4$ (toward the left as seon in Filg, 2) hajing an internal b oref the suriace 47 of this bore having a diameter that lr slightly grater than the outer &Amater oe the vetiainer 14 wheln the retainer 14 Io in either the load grove 22 or the elat,-ae groove 24. The diameter of~ th bore surfae 47 Ia als slightly larger than the diameter oe tho guicde aueface 32, Acoringly, when the Insert 11 with the retainer 14 in the load groove 22 is moved toward the right aa 5aen in Fig 1 I nd 2and moved Intog the interior of the recptiale 12, the sureace 47 moves over the ousidE of th, '"kNo-ring 13 and the retiiiner 14 a it mlides on the giqde nurCace 32. The thickneas n of the torw~rd portion 46 1% 4iEd to en41bte the poctloan 46 to mtiove Akbetween the guide surface 32 and the fl.ange 40 of the dust capt as Illustrated in Fig, 3. Since the portioQn 46 slides on the, guide surface 32# the movement of the insert is guided anda aligned properly with the bore of the receptaclo during Assembly, spaced rearwadly (to the rightt as seen In Fiq5. I and 3) of thp forward portion 46 of the reoeptacl1e i.s an annular groo~ve 48 which has aufticient 0itmensions to allow. the retainer 14 to be moved into it. The rad4 dimensioni of the <1 00 0, 10 qro 4$ In sufficiently~ large that it Vill receive the retainpr 14 when the retaier is on top of the apex 27. The frw~cd sitde of the groove 48 inalueG a olarnted surface 49 that extends erom the bore Gurface 47 to the bottom of the tqrocve 48. At the rearward qido of the groove 48 la a radially extendiing pQ~h surface 51 which extonIo C rcm the bttom of the, groove 48 radially inadly to a reducoed diameter blore 52 which ha olightly grater raia dttlp on than the guitdo "race 34 ot in~sert. Consequtenity, when the 1w, rt Lo b i g move; into the iterior of the teceptacoe the g~uide o n icace 34 1r, Z4guided b~y the redueed diameter bove and at tlie tamte time the (3guide sureace 32 iq gided by the bore suraco 47 at the (3 Eonward end oe the 1 oe he boce 52 may Iinolude aj ,"%a2L adilally C)Iwardly extending Step 53 to better eable the reetacile to alide ovr the O-rnq 13 without daagj it.

Cn,,3derinq thep coutruction and is,,embly ot the fttiag, thle Gtop 16 cand. asaUMU1nj one in Peovidedl, the duist cp17 trf* mcnountel inl the gjroove 13 the tet-ilner 14 1* mounated,, in~ the load qroove 22 arid the O'-nIng 13 i1 mounted Ini the L W Agroove 21. The dust cap 17 may be made of a sretchAble material such as rubber or polyethylene so that It may, be stretched and moved over the end of the nipple to mount it in the qrPQve 33. Te Insert 11 is then muoved toward the rigjht from the position shown In Eig. 2 to the position shQwn in rig# 3t and the guid~e surface 34 of the Insert moveas into the bore, 52# The 0-ring 13 Is coompressod by the -ore surqe 52 as shown in Fig, 3* The push surfaqe SI engage$ the forward side of the retainer 14 and pushen the retainer 14 up the slanted surface 26 ao the Inaert is moved into the rc e. TChe retainer 14 Io Moved, W~ the surfCaQ 5t over the apeX sand, due to thne sretch or tenosio in the retAIner 14t It then svnaps into the lOk groove 23. ThIs oition tS ,hown In Pig. 4 wherein the parts are in the look potton, Tlhe tforwasrd end 46 of the teceptaole 12 0s lateD between the guide curface% 32 and the flange 40 of the dust cap 17, the gude suro~ens 321 ind 34 f the insiert are cloniely adjacent thie bore nufaces 47 and $2 vo that the insert oanniot tilt in tho teceptacle, the O-r$inj 13 ia cmprerssed As shown In i 4i and 4 and 5ons a seal, Sand the rtaaecr 14 1,11 in the lock groove 21. As ohwc $u n I L the diatreter of the bore ourafae 47 io letssi than te oute dlaaoter of the retainer 14 wheii the cetainer is 1Ated in tho loc groove Cinvtse ntly, Internal pqsoure tendlwj to tseparate the parts Of the eittin; or ally attempt to move the in.Oset 1 to theo leet or o t o6 the re e'F *Ptasie 12 causeIes the slanted sureace 41J ot the ceaeptaclp to enage one side ot the retainer 14 whereas the othe A9de OC the rotikinet Its enqgaed by the stetd %ide 28 of the groove 23. The reti iner 14 etend$ into both grooveg 23 and 46 and It is wedged between the two slAntqd s~rtaoes 49 and 20t and the eittIng partsare, therqby Oqcure3.y loqked togethpr, The surgaq 49 cams9 or wedges the rt~lnee toward the botlonm og the 3oq groove 23 With refe~enoe to P'ig. 4# it should q no~ted that the Aa4 dimensions of the insert i3. and the roophaqle X2~ Are such that, when the fowr end 46 Oe the reoeptacle iq moved tghtl~y Agglot the rAdiel portlon 39 oC the dust cap 17j the w~ beor theo ape. 27 n4 neverthete$de 3. "ot enga'qe the retainor 14 whlch to in the W.ck groove 2 vurthert the 4pox 31 between the lock qgoove 23 and the groe2 nvflto thie retzaiint 14 'to -cIe~a117 into the reeae groove 24 hecau ,e the zretainter 1.4 wirnld havo to Eatrot~h iR order to~ expanld over the npex 33., It io etmt doisiab3.o to dLae l he Cttng fo M4~ne~c iuoe Lo Ocder to LOplcoe the OQVlg 13, 3 Oanl" or to "Ot~VICE) the ptGo oedto tho lno-ert 3 -L~l 'o thp ecptacl.e 1.2, 11ti ettlno t lrevore detnedn( to bo re3.enaoab3.e ;O that; the inovvt U3 m- ay bo ,-ith,-Jawnj L~-m tile rcetacle 12, the 1ttino, eoc whatever z~iraos3e, i aipyby ffivot cenvv1Lnq thle oto 1 36, Wito the u ,o3p 6 Elin~j part o6 the qroovo 33, th)e linert it3 mray be mnoved an mxtonlol diotanoce itrity favthe in It3 Eorwatd alvetotln (toward thle rtght) to trio Pos3tion)t qsowo in Figi G wher(. the torwavd endl 46 o6 the ceceptac3.e enclge,4 the d1ut oap 3.7 anid the dtist cl~ im moved to the I.et-hand end al the groove 33 wtrn~ thI3 exterlaed movomqant to the r&ee8 po-Ition# the Push sutrfaqe 51 Moves, h4 retainer 14 trom tho Ipck groove 23, to th'e reese groove Z4 and~ over the apex I. As previ.ously xnentionedf the release groove 24 has a s lat diamen the lock groove 23, And ivt i~s suficetly $Mail that th reainer 14F when mnoved Itot the groove. 24# does mo bloqk the movyinent of th inaor 11 out of the 4-X 2, to other'1 1 words, tlhe diametr of the bore 47 Is slightly grae tha o aproxnAtely eq~ual to the co4tev aimmtev of the retainer 14 .4hen the retainer is loated in the reease grove 24.

When tkhe4 tttil in! tr be' r~Ge~bed, tie stcvpl6I pliced back in the gro:vo :3 in the postio qnG-n in Pis 1*4 an thie retainer 4 1in u-anually r~vetd fr the relaso grove 24 to the Iia groovo 22. 'tit prefpred rhat thie 0-ring I ilrna be relced at thin tit1, he I)-Itni tf 0Eitting rnay t-hen be r eenbed an previouolv cleocuted, Pi.$ iliuntrate(, in alternaltilve ntrc genent whorein the fv'.no and hedmit carIE Eored in nOfO piece. A unitary 'truture 60lnlde3 a !3ct) povrien 61 an1d a O'lt 0 I oto 6 A. A handl~e 63~ may he prnovided on )nv nile of the uniary 2q stuQure 60, The crnan,- i~ocinlt nciurationn of tthO nIt~utuve bO mray be 055entaly hO A 1; 311()tehWn 4n t4 2" exnept thnt tlhO nItp anl the due:t oaIp are Eori~led" "1 all Lotg a o tinglo j~ieoe The unitary, m utue ay, Eor fxM1MtI(4 Oe MWlIded eiA Qt O hlbIf! platt which is ritrtched dtlcing a,,embIy in arder to nildr it over the, end oe ttie nipple and M~ount It in the cjcoave 3$ the inert U., While the uilitary 3tecture 60 (and the dkist Oqi 17)miy bq V4-n')MWha1 VelilUeatt it norzAA11Y should not bo Made too moft because the unitary structure might be compressed b-b the forward end of the receptacle 12 stficientIjy to permit Accidental disasombly of the parts.

On the other hand, in some installations it may be desirble to make the unitoar structure sutfiolently, detormable to enable the fitting to be disasembled by manually forcing the insert Into the receptacle sufficiently to deform the unitry structure (or the dust cap 17) without removing, It, Norma4ly, howover, the unLtcry structure 60 is removed In order too disassemble the fitting by gr~aspng the handle 63 and pullng the structure 60 out of the groove 33* rhQ 0rfing 13 may be mounted In a dove farmed in the Interior borQ 52, of the raceptac1 ,2 although it is prq e to have the O-ring on the insert 11 becaueo it is easier to install and inspect. The dust cap cotud al so be mounted on the cenc, 46 of thle eCeptacle 12 instead of on the in.sert 1. A retainer 4 o Rmed by a garter spring ail descibed 15 subject to belng El attened lsomewhat when high w~iitude for~ce I aplied to separate the Eitting parts, Consequentl~y there is a limit, fol a retainer of a qiven, Itreftth, to the tntperna preosure Inthe fitting wih may safely 1"trOduoedf Zt will be apparent fron thq foregoing that a novel and useful qu k-confelot fittin having a releasable Eeature has been prid~ d.J The vario[1U3 grooves in the insert part ind the receptate Are eaily fahiaede anfd the ntop 16 Ant (where one ma provided) the du"It Cal )7 are eami3y And inexprensively Manutatctred and itnstled. Not only way the fitting be I adisasembled when desired, it mnay also be reassembled mreley by mnounting the stop 1.6 back in the groove 33. As a conseo~ence, the cost of the fitting is rel.atively low, It is Lelatively simiple to manufacture and install, and it is reliable in, operation.

Claims (7)

1. 2. A fitting as in Claim 1, wherein said recep- tacle Includes a push surface located to move said retainer from said lock groove to said release groove.
2. 3. A fitting as in Claim 2# whereta said insert further ha anr annular %oad groove formed in the outer periphery thereof, a sloped surface extending radially Qutwardly and rearwardly from said load groove to $aid lock groove, said garter spring being initially mounted in snaid load groove, and said push surface being located to toll said retainer from said load grooveo up said sloped surface and to said lock groove. 00 00 4, A fitting as in Claim 3, and further Including OI 1$ apexee formed on said inset between 5aid oad groove and 5aid lock groove and between said lock groove and said release groove* 44 0 a aa 5. A f itting as in Claim 1, wherein aaid stop is removably connected to said Isnsrt, 6o A fitting aa tn Claim whferein naid insert hao an annular Otop groove formed in the outer periplery therof, and said Q~t I5 rimovably mounted in oaid ntop groe
3. 7. A fitting as in Claim 6, and further includinq a- dust- cap mounted in said stop' groove and enclosing a portion of Gaid recptacle.
4. 8. A fitting as in Claim I, and further including 3S i aa dust cp atta~ced to ane o s aid :insrt and reepacle and enclsng a pcsrtion oC aid fetaeL~~ as. i 15
5. 9. A releasable quick-connect fitting comprising tubular insert and receptacle parts, the insert part being movable into said receptacle part on the axis of said parts, said insert part having annular load, lock and release grooves in the outer periphery thereof, said grooves respectively having first, second and third radial dimensions, said lock groove being between said load and release grooves and having a larger radial dimension than said load and release grooves, a sloped surface extending radially outwardly from said load groove t said lock groove, a first apex being formed between said sloped surface and said lock groove and a °0 o0 second apex being formed between said lock groove and OF 0 0 aoo said release groove, an annular expansible retainer O oa 15 mounted in one of said grooves, said retainer being formed by a garter spring having substantially circular radially extending coils, said receptacle having a o°'"so forward end with a first bore diameter which is larger i o° than the outer diameter of said garter spving when said 0 0 20 garter spring is in either said load or said release a§ o a grooves but less than the outer diameter of said garter spring when said garter spring is in said lock groove, said receptacle further having a bore groove and a push o o surface spaced rearwardly from said forward end, said 0 00 push surface having a second bore diameter which is less j than the outer diameter of said garter spring when in any of the grooves and said push surface being operable to roll said garter spring from said load groove, up said slanted surface, to said lock groove duri.ig assembly of the parts, said bore groove, said lock groove and said garter spring having slanted surfaces and said garter spring being wedged between said slanted surfaces of said grooves when said parts are assembled and said garter spring is in said lock groove, said further compeising a removable stop engageable between said insert and receptacle parts for limiting the extent of forward movement of said insert into said receptacle during assembly to prevent said push su:r-face from moving said garter spring to said release groove, said stop when removed enablingq said insert to be moved forwardly to a release position where said push surface moves said garter spring over said second apex to said release groove, thereby enabling disassembly of said parts. A fitting as in Claim 0, wherein said stop is removably connected to said insert patrt. 2. 11. A fitting as in Claim t wherein sad insert part has an annular stop groove formed In the outer periphery thereo, and said ntop is removably mounted in sa14 stop groove. 12, A fitting as in Claim lit and further including a dust cap mounted in said stop groove, 134 A fitting as in Claim 9, and further Including d~Ult cap attachjed to one of aaid iooert andr rceptacle parts.
6. 14. A fittincg a In Claim 10 tiherein said qartei spring iG Gited Go that it io stcetched when it Iii m\ounted in said load groove# A fitting as in Claim 9e Whetrin oaid gavter sprtng In sized so that It to rstretohed when it i, 3Q mountod in said load Qroove. A fitting as In Claim 1, wherein said retainer and said lock groove have nubstantiJaly conforidoilqg curved sufaces, 4;; -17
7. 17. A fittng as in Claim 9, wherein said retai ner and said lock grove have substantiall y conforing curved surfaces. this SEV MEEM day Of MAY 1989 SttatofB Inc, Patent Attony for the Applicant SMRUUN L. F A-