EP3430300A1 - Anti-binding ball swivel - Google Patents
Anti-binding ball swivelInfo
- Publication number
- EP3430300A1 EP3430300A1 EP17767713.5A EP17767713A EP3430300A1 EP 3430300 A1 EP3430300 A1 EP 3430300A1 EP 17767713 A EP17767713 A EP 17767713A EP 3430300 A1 EP3430300 A1 EP 3430300A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- male
- female
- ball
- longitudinal axis
- swivel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L27/00—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement
- F16L27/02—Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction
- F16L27/04—Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction with partly spherical engaging surfaces
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
- A47L9/242—Hose or pipe couplings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
- B05B15/14—Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired places; Arrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts
- B05B15/18—Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired places; Arrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts for improving resistance to wear, e.g. inserts or coatings; for indicating wear; for handling or replacing worn parts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
- B05B15/60—Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
- B05B15/65—Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits
- B05B15/652—Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits whereby the jet can be oriented
- B05B15/654—Mounting arrangements for fluid connection of the spraying apparatus or its outlets to flow conduits whereby the jet can be oriented using universal joints
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/14—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
- E04H4/16—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
- E04H4/1654—Self-propelled cleaners
- E04H4/1672—Connections to the pool water circulation system
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L27/00—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement
- F16L27/02—Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction
- F16L27/023—Universal and rotating joints
Definitions
- the present invention relates to ball swivels, and more particularly, to ball swivels used to connect a water hose to a pool cleaner.
- pool cleaners - and more often, suction-type pool cleaners - utilize some kind of swivel mechanism between the pool cleaner and the water hose.
- Various mechanisms claim to improve coiling of the hose and or influence of the hose on the random movement on the pool cleaner.
- One type utilizes a non-articulating linear swivel attached to the cleaner while others utilize a linear swivel within the suction line in conjunction with a ball swivel or linear swivel attached to the cleaner to try to improve performance.
- Some linear swivels, for positioning on cleaner or in the suction line incorporate ball bearings to allow for free rotation and prevent binding up under load.
- a common problem with all swivels is that when suction is applied via the hose, the forces acting on the swivel components will increase to eventually cause a binding effect on the swivel. The higher the suction, the more the pivotal and rotational functions of the swivel will be adversely affected - up to a point where the swivel may become totally ineffective.
- a ball swivel comprises first male and female portions and at least a first stopper.
- the first male portion includes a truncated ball, a male fluid passage being formed through the first male portion extending between first and second male portion openings, the first male portion opening being located on the truncated ball.
- the first female portion includes a socket receiving the truncated ball via a first female portion opening, a female fluid passage extending from a second female portion opening and communicating with the male fluid passage through the first male portion opening, the socket retaining the truncated ball such that the first female and male portions are capable of relative rotational motion about a longitudinal axis separating the first male and female portion openings and relative pivotal motion toward and away from the longitudinal axis.
- the first stopper is arranged externally to the first male and female portions delimiting relative translation movement therebetween in at least one direction along the longitudinal axis while still permitting the relative rotational motion and the relative pivotal motion.
- first and second stoppers engage the first female portion at respective contact points separated by a stopper axis passing through a center point of the truncated ball, the relative pivotal motion between the first male and female portions being constrained to pivoting about the stopper axis.
- a spacer is arranged between the first female portion and the first stopper such that the first stopper engages the first female portion through the spacer.
- the ball swivel is formed as a dual ball swivel.
- Figure 1 is a side view of a conventional ball swivel
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ball swivel of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ball swivel of Figure 1 , pivoted away from a longitudinal axis;
- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1 , with an inset detailing a relationship of components under no load;
- Figure 5 is alternate detail view of the general area of the inset of Figure 4, showing a relationship of components under a suction load;
- Figure 6 is a side view of a ball swivel according to an embodiment of the present invention, with hidden features shown in broken lines;
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a male portion of the ball swivel of Figure 6;
- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ball swivel of Figure 6;
- Figure 9 is a side view of the ball swivel of Figure 6, pivoted away from a longitudinal axis, with hidden features shown in broken lines, and with insets detailing component relationships;
- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a ball swivel according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 1 1 is a side view of the ball swivel of Figure 10, pivoted away from a longitudinal axis;
- Figure 12 is a side view of a male portion of the ball swivel of Figure 10;
- Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of a female portion and spacer of the ball swivel of Figure 10;
- Figure 14 is a sectional view of the female portion of the ball swivel of Figure 10, taken along line 14-14 of Figure 13;
- Figure 15 is a perspective view of dual ball swivel, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 16 is a perspective view of the male portions of the dual ball swivel of Figure 15;
- Figure 17 is a perspective view of dual ball swivel, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 18 is a perspective view of the male portions of the dual ball swivel of Figure 17.
- a male portion 12 and female portion 14 are so as to permit rotational motion 16 about a longitudinal axis 20 of the swivel 10, as well as pivotal motion 22 toward and away from the axis 20. More specifically, the male portion 12 includes a truncated ball 24 that is received in a complementary socket 26 of the female portion 14.
- the male fluid passage 30 extends between a first male portion opening 34 on the truncated ball 24 and a second male portion opening 36.
- the socket 26 receives the ball 24 via a first female portion opening 40, with the female fluid passage extending to a second female portion opening 42.
- a wiper seal 44 extends toward the ball 24 around a perimeter of the first female portion opening 40, and is intended to minimize fluid leakage by sealing the gap 46 between the ball 24 and socket 26.
- this misalignment between the ball 24 and socket 26 also urges the wiper seal 44 away from the ball 24.
- the internal surface of the socket 26 is formed with ribs (used to assist in the management of small debris - see, e.g., Figure 14, ribs 282), significant leakage can now occur past the wiper seal 44.
- a ball swivel 110 includes a pair of stoppers 160 arranged externally to the male and female portions 1 12, 1 14 (the ball swivel 110 is symmetrical such that an opposite side view from Figure 6 would be identical thereto).
- the stoppers 160 delimit relative translational movement between the male and female portions 1 12, 114 toward one another along the longitudinal axis 120 while still permitting relative rotational and pivotal motions 1 16, 122.
- the stoppers 160 are fixed to the male portion 112; alternately, stoppers could be fixed to the female portion.
- the stoppers 160 extend toward the female portion 1 14 from a collar 162 of the male portion 112 surrounding the second male opening 136.
- the stoppers 160 each have a rounded surface 164 at the contact points with the female portion 114, which, as depicted, is on the socket 126 around the perimeter of the first female opening 140.
- the stoppers are molded, or otherwise formed, integrally with the male portion (or female portion, if fixed thereto); however, stoppers could be formed separately and subsequently affixed.
- the contact points of the stoppers 160 are separated along a stopper axis 166 which passes through an internal center point 170 of the truncated ball 124.
- This configuration ensures that the female portion 114 is still able to move through its full range of pivotal motion 122, although constrained to pivot about the stopper axis 166.
- the axis of pivotal motion 122 will accordingly be fixed relative thereto - regardless of rotation of the female portion 1 14. If the female portion 1 14 is fixed to the pool cleaner, the axis of pivotal motion 122 will be rotatable relative thereto along with the male portion 112.
- the user of the stoppers 160 prevents undesirable engagement between the ball 124 and the socket 126 and the consequent binding. Additionally, by preserving the proper alignment between the ball 124 and socket 126, proper sealing with the wiper seal 144 under suction load is ensured - as can be seen even in the extremes of pivotal motion 122 detailed in the insets of Figure 9.
- Fixing the stoppers 160 as shown in the depicted embodiment delimits relative translational motion of the male and female portions 1 12, 114 toward one another, as would be experienced under suction loading.
- the male and female portions of a ball swivel would be urged apart along the longitudinal axis (i.e., opposite the arrows 50 in Figure 4).
- the stoppers would be positioned to delimit translation motion of the male and female portions away from one another.
- a spacer 272 is arranged between the stoppers 260 and the female portion 214, minimizing or eliminating rotation-caused wear on the stoppers 260.
- the spacer 272 is preferably made of a material with enhanced wear characteristics, such as a
- the spacer 272 is preferably independently removable and replaceable if worn beyond a desirable extent, preventing replacement of additional ball swivel 210 components.
- the female portion 214 is rotatable relative to the spacer 272, leaving the capacity for rotational motion 216 unaffected.
- the socket 226 has a collar 274 extending around the exterior thereof, an underside of which directly engages the spacer 272.
- a surface 276 of the stopper 272 abutting the collar 274 is crenelated to reduce the contact area, and resulting friction, therebetween.
- mounting recesses 280 are formed thereon which seat on the contact points of the stoppers 260.
- the mounting recesses 280 still allow the spacer 272 and female portion 214 a full range of pivotal motion 222 about the stopper axis 266, but prevent spacer 272 rotation.
- the preceding features can also be used with dual swivels, similar to that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,464,429.
- the ball swivel 310 features two sets of male and female portions 312A/B, 314A/B and associated components, including stoppers 360A/B and spacers 372A/B, that function substantially as described above, except the serial combination of the sets allows for a higher degree of articulation across the entire ball swivel 310.
- the two male portions 312A/B are fixed directly at the respective second openings of their truncated balls 324A/B.
- the stoppers 360A/B extend away from a common collar 362 around the junction therebetween.
- the stoppers 360A are radially offset from the stoppers 360B about the longitudinal axis 320.
- the stoppers 460A are aligned with the stoppers 460B in the direction of the longitudinal axis 420.
- the ball swivels of the present invention advantageously prevent binding and leakage under load, while still permitting rotational and pivotal movement.
- the foregoing embodiments are provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2017/032850 WO2017161385A1 (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2017-05-16 | Anti-binding ball swivel |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3430300A1 true EP3430300A1 (en) | 2019-01-23 |
EP3430300A4 EP3430300A4 (en) | 2019-10-23 |
Family
ID=65515901
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17767713.5A Withdrawn EP3430300A4 (en) | 2017-05-16 | 2017-05-16 | Anti-binding ball swivel |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3430300A4 (en) |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2095352B (en) * | 1981-03-25 | 1984-09-26 | Shotbolt Keith | Improvements related to ball and socket joints |
DE19731367C2 (en) * | 1997-07-22 | 2003-04-30 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Device for connecting two tubular pipe parts |
DE102015000341A1 (en) * | 2015-01-19 | 2016-07-21 | Mann + Hummel Gmbh | Joint arrangement for pipelines |
-
2017
- 2017-05-16 EP EP17767713.5A patent/EP3430300A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3430300A4 (en) | 2019-10-23 |
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Legal Events
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Extension state: BA ME |
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RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: F16L 27/02 20060101AFI20170922BHEP Ipc: F16L 27/04 20060101ALI20170922BHEP Ipc: B05B 15/08 20060101ALI20170922BHEP Ipc: F16L 27/08 20060101ALI20170922BHEP |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: STOLTZ, HERMAN |
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A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20190925 |
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Ipc: B05B 15/654 20180101ALI20190919BHEP Ipc: F16L 27/04 20060101ALI20190919BHEP Ipc: F16L 27/02 20060101AFI20190919BHEP Ipc: F16L 27/08 20060101ALI20190919BHEP |
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Inventor name: STOLTZ, HERMAN |
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Effective date: 20200312 |
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