FR2665508A1 - Quick connector - Google Patents

Abstract

Quick connector comprising two pieces, respectively a male piece and a female piece (10) which can be fitted into one another with interposition of at least one seal (16a), and a locking device comprising at least one clamping jaw (20) and a locking ring (25), the male piece consisting of the free end part of one (T1) of two tubular elements or tubes to be connected to one another. The locking ring (25) is fixed to the female piece (10) and it exerts on the clamping jaw (20) both radial compression forces for compressing it around the tube (T1) and axial compression forces for compressing the seal (16a) axially aligned with the jaw (20).

Description

 The present invention relates to a quick coupling of the type comprising two mutually interlocking maie and female parts in one with the interposition of at least one seal, and a locking device comprising at least one form clamping jaw. annular elastically housed in the female part and a locking ring, the maie piece being constituted by the free end portion of one of the two tubular elements or tubes to be connected to one another to ensure between them continuity of a hydraulic or pneumatic connection.

 A quick coupling, as the name suggests, is a fitting that requires assembly only a minimum of assembly operations without the need to resort to a tool. In general, the quick couplings currently used have the drawbacks of being complex because of the large number of component parts and not always ensuring a perfect seal, particularly when the pressure of the fluid passing through them. is high.

 The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks, and it proposes for this purpose a quick coupling of the aforementioned type which is characterized in that the locking ring is fixed to the female part and it exerts on the clamping jaw, once the tube forming the male part engaged therein, both radial compression forces to compress it around the tube and axial compressive forces to compress the seal axially aligned with the jaw.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the clamping jaw has at least one outer frustoconical surface which cooperates with an internal frustoconical surface of complementary shape provided on the locking ring in order to obtain the aforementioned compressive forces.

 According to yet another feature of the invention, especially when the tube forming the male part of the connector is a flexible element, that is to say radially compressible, the locking device is completed by a rigid sleeve housed inside. of the female part and whose outer peripheral surface forms a reaction surface to the radial compression forces exerted by the locking ring on the clamping jaw, the free end portion of the tube forming the male part of the coupling being engaged between the clamping jaws and this rigid sleeve.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned rigid sleeve forming the reaction surface has at least one external boss located substantially facing the sealing gasket so as to exert on it, once the tube forming the piece. In the case of the coupling engaged in the female part, radial compressive forces compress the seal, so that it is possible to obtain a perfect seal by using only one seal.

 In general, the female part and the locking device of the coupling are pre-assembled to one another to form a single-piece assembly.

To set up the connection between two tubes, it is sufficient to force force that which forms the male part of the connector in the clamping sleeve, the locking or locking being automatically obtained at the end of this commitment. The other tube may also constitute the male part of a second connection identical to the previous to form a double connector whose two female parts form a one-piece assembly. Alternatively, the second tube can be force-fitted on a tip tail fir which extends axially the female part of the connector.

 Considering the inlet and the outlet of the connection, taking as a reference the flow direction of the fluid, it is preferable in the case where the connection has a tip at the tail of fir, that it is provided at the outlet of the connection . Otherwise, leakage may occur between the tip and the tube, especially when the fluid pressure is high. Of course, this leakage problem does not arise when the year uses a double connector where the two tubes are each connected according to the provisions of the invention.

 According to a major advantage of the invention, this type of single or double connection ensures a perfect seal especially when the pressure of the fluid flowing through it is high. By thus resolving in a very secure manner this sealing problem, such a connection can be used in many fields of industry where it is imperative that a connection be perfectly sealed.

 According to another advantage of the invention, the components of the connection are reduced in number, are plastic and molded, so that the cost of their manufacture is not higher than that of commonly used couplings.

Other advantages, features and details will become apparent from the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of examples and in which:
FIGS. 1 to 7 are simplified sectional views of a coupling according to the invention according to several embodiments, and
- Figure 8 is a simplified sectional view of a double connector according to the invention.

 A quick coupling according to the invention comprises a female part 10, a piece 15, at least one annular seal 16a and a locking device consisting of at least one clamping jaw 20 and a ring lock 25.

 The female part 10 consists of a rigid hollow body 11 of generally cylindrical shape open at both ends. In general, the body presents axially three successive inner housings 12a, 12b and 12c of successively decreasing diameter and delimited by three annular shoulders 13a, 13b and 1Sc, respectively. Considering the direction of flow of the fluid through the connector, the housing 12a of larger diameter generally forms the inlet of the connector, while the housing 12c of smaller diameter forms the outlet of the coupling which is extended in the case of a simple connection by a tip 14 in fir tail integral with the body 1.

 The male part 15 is always constituted by the free end portion of the T1 of two tubular elements or tubes to be connected to each other by means of the coupling.

 The clamping jaw 20 is annular in one or more elastically deformable elements.

 The locking ring 25 is fixed on the body 11 of the female part 10, abuts on the clamping jaw 20 via complementary frustoconical bearing surfaces to exert axial compressive forces on the seal 16a and radial compression forces on the tube Ti to immobilize the latter in the connection.

 The three housings 12a, 12b and 12c of the body 11 of the female part 10 are intended to receive the clamping jaw 20, the seal 16a and the end of the tube T1, respectively.

 In general, the aforementioned elements common to the various connections that will be described below will have the same reference numbers.

 In the first connection shown in Figure 1, the clamping jaw 20 as a sleeve externally has a cylindrical portion 20a extended axially by a frustoconical portion 20b flaring outwardly and whose outer periphery delimits a frustoconical bearing surface 20c. An outer annular shoulder 21 is delimited between the cylindrical portions 20a and frustoconical 20b. The inner housing of the jaw 20 is cylindrical with a substantially constant diameter throughout its length. The frustoconical portion 20b has teeth 22 at its inner peripheral surface.

 The locking ring 25 has two external coaxial skirts 25a and 25b internal 25c joined at one end by a bottom wall and which delimit between them an annular housing 26. The inner skirt has a cylindrical portion 25b axially extended by a frustoconical portion 25c flaring outwardly and whose inner periphery delimits a frustoconical bearing surface 25d. An inner annular shoulder 27 is delimited between the cylindrical portions 25b and frustoconical 25c. The outer peripheral portion of the inner skirt 25b, 25c has a substantially constant diameter throughout its length.

 Overall, the outer peripheral surface of the frustoconical portion 20b of the jaw 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the frustoconical portion 25c of the inner skirt 25a of the ring 25 form two complementary frustoconical surfaces 20c and 25d intended to come into contact with each other. the other.

 The mounting principle of the connection described above is as follows.

 Two annular seals 16a and 16b are successively introduced into the female part 10. These seals have diameters such that they are placed in the intermediate housing 12b.

 The clamping jaw 20 and the locking ring are preassembled to each other. For this, the jaw 20 is introduced axially into the ring, or vice versa.

These two parts are fixed to one another by latching once their shoulders respectively 21 and 27 bear against each other after elastic deformation of the cylindrical portion 20a of the jaw 20. Once this pre-assembly obtained, the cylindrical portions 20a and frustoconical 20b of the jaw 20 and the cylindrical portions 25b and frustoconical 25c of the ring 25 are respectively in contact.

 The jaw assembly 20 - ring 25 and the female part 10 of the connection la are then assembled to one another. The body 11, at its end opposite the endpiece 14, is received in the annular housing 26 of the ring 25. Their assembly is obtained by at least two and preferably three lugs Ila projecting from the peripheral surface to the body 11 and which are housed in three corresponding slots 11b provided the inner peripheral surface of the outer skirt 25a of the ring 25, respectively.

 Once this assembly is made, it should be noted that the clamping jaw 20 axially compresses the seals 16a and 16b. The seal 16a abuts against the shoulder 13b at the bottom of the housing 12b, while the end surface of the jaw 20 in contact with the seal 16b abuts against the shoulder 13a at the bottom of the housing 12a. Simultaneously with the axial compression forces produced by the ring 25 and exerted on the seals 16b and 16a via the jaw 20, the ring 25 also exerts radial compression forces on the jaw 20 due to the complementary frustoconical bearing surfaces of the ring 25 and the jaw 20. These radial forces cause compression deformation of the frustoconical portion 20b of the jaw 20.

 In a last operation, the end portion of the tube T1 forming the male part 15 of the connection la is engaged by force inside the jaw 20. It passes through the jaw 20 to abut against the shoulder 13c or bottom wall of the last housing 12c of the body 11 of the female part 10. During this engagement, the rigidity of the tube T1 which forms a reaction plane by its outer peripheral surface, pushes radially outwards the frustoconical portion 20b of the jaw 20. Once this operation is completed, the tube T1 is fixed to the connection la, and the teeth 22 of the jaw 20 in contact with the periphery of the tube Ti plus the cooperation between the frustoconical surfaces of the jaw 20 and the ring 25 oppose at any withdrawal from the T1 tube.

Finally, all that remains is to connect the second tube
T2 on the tip 14 of the connection la, in a manner known per se
The connection described above is of the dismountable type. It suffices for this to unlock the ring 25 of the body 11 of the female part 10.

 In general, this connection la applies to semi-rigid tubes T1.

The second connector 1b shown in FIG. 2 is an improvement made to connection 1a in the case where the male part 15 is formed by the free end of a tube
TI flexible whose stiffness is not enough alone to oppose the radial compression forces and allow to fix the tube T1 to the fitting.

 This connection lb globally identical to the connection la has a rigid reaction plane formed by a sleeve 30.

 This sleeve 30 is located inside the body 11 of the female part 10 and extends axially from the last shoulder 13c of the housing 12c, towards the clamping jaw 20, and ends in the vicinity of the connection zone between the cylindrical portions 20a and frustoconical 20b of the jaw 20. It is thus defined between the sleeve 30 on the one hand, and the clamping jaw 20 and the seals 15b, 16a on the other hand, an annular space 31 in which engages the T1 tube.

In this case, the outlet opening of the connection 1b generally corresponds to the inside diameter of the sleeve 30.

 The mounting operations of this connection lb are similar to those of the connection la.

 In the previous connection lb, the sleeve 30 which forms a reaction plane necessary to block the tube T1 is an integral part of the female part 10.

 The third connector lc shown in Figure 3 is of substantially the same structure as that of the second connector lb, but with the presence of a single seal 16a. The reaction plane formed by the sleeve 30 here has a feature that resides in an external boss 32 provided at its base, that is to say at its zone of connection with the body 11 of the female part 10. This boss 32 causes a slight expansion of the end of the tube TS which gives rise to radial compression forces. These forces are applied on the seal 16a which is thus compressed both axially and radially, thus reinforcing the seal with the advantage of eliminating the seal 16b.

 The fourth connector ld shown in Figure 4 is generally identical to the third connector lc. The only noticeable difference lies in the fact that the sleeve 30 forming a reaction plane is an independent piece not integral with the body 11 of the female part 10. In this case, the first assembly of the fitting operation consists in putting in place the sleeve 30 and then the seal 16a, the other assembly operations remaining the same as those of previous connections.

 The fifth connection shown in Figure 5 has a structure substantially identical to any of the previous connections, in this case that of Figure 1. In this connection, it is further provided two series lia and liai three each lugs, axially offset to the outer peripheral surface of the body 11 of the female part 10 and two corresponding series lib, llbl of three notches each in the locking ring 25 to ensure a two-stage locking of the ring 25 on the body 11 of the female part 10 of the connection.

 The assembly operations of this connection are the same as those of connection la. The lugs 11a of the body 11 are positioned initially in the notches llbl of the ring 25, the frustoconical surfaces of the jaw 20 and the ring 25 not yet in contact with each other as shown in Figure 5 (upper half-oue).

Finally, after placing the tube T1, the locking of the fitting is completed by axially moving the ring 25 to bring the lugs 11a into the notches 11b, which automatically causes the positioning of the lugs liai in the notches libl (half-view lower ).

 All the connections described above are of the dismountable type by unlocking the ring 25 of the body 11 of the female part 10.

 The sixth connection If shown in Figure 6 is against the non-removable type, and in its representation in the figure it has generally the same structure as that of the connection lc of Figure 3. The difference lies in the ring 25 which in this case, once preassembled to the jaw 20, is fully housed in the body 11 of the female part 10 without it being possible to remove it due to its snap by an annular shoulder 35 provided on the peripheral surface internal housing 12a of the body 11 and against which abuts an end surface of the ring 25. In this case, the locking ring 25 is limited to its inner skirt, itself limited to the frustoconical portion 25c.

 In the seventh connection lg shown in Figure 7, it is envisaged a different structure than the previous connections.

 The body 11 of the female part 10 has a cylindrical portion 40 extended axially by a frustoconical skirt 41 which terminates in an annular boss 42. The inner peripheral surface of the skirt 41 defines an internal frustoconical bearing surface 41a, while the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 40 delimits two successive cylindrical housings 43 and 44 on either side of a radial shoulder 45. The bottom wall of the housing 43 of smaller diameter is delimited by a radial shoulder 46.

 The clamping jaw 20 is formed of three elements 50 each extending over 120 and together defining a frustoconical jaw clamp. Each clamping element 50 is therefore a curved element such as a piece of truncated cone with a large base 51, a small base 52> two peripheral outer 53 and inner surfaces 54 respectively and two lateral end surfaces.

 The inner peripheral surface 54 intended to come into contact with the tube T1 is toothed.

 The locking ring 25 comprises an annular wall 60 extended at its outer periphery by a skirt 61 which ends with a radially inner annular boss 62 delimiting a shoulder 68.

 The ring 25 and the jaw 20 are preassembled to each other, each jaw member 50 being mounted radially pivotally in the ring 25 by fixing means 65 as described in the patent application - 9,003 005 filed on 9 March 1990 by the applicant.

 An annular seal 16a with an outer annular lip 16'a is mounted in the housing 43 of the body 11 and the jaw assembly 20 - ring 25 is attached to the body 11. The jaw 20 engages in the frustoconical skirt 41 until the shoulder 63 of the ring comes into abutment against the boss 42 of the skirt 41 thus ensuring snap fastening of the ring 25 on the female part 10 of the coupling. In this position, the small base 52 of each clamping element 50 bears against the seal 16a previously introduced into the intermediate housing 43.

 Then, the end portion of the tube T1 is engaged in the clamping jaw 20 through the ring 25 to abut against the shoulder 46 of the housing 44. During this engagement, the tube T1 repels the clamping elements 50 towards the outside, which has the effect of bringing the frustoconical surfaces of the skirt 41 and the clamping elements 50 together, and compressing the lip 16'a of the seal 16a against the skirt 41, thus reinforcing the seal.

 Depending on the rigidity of the tube T1, a sleeve 30 forming the reaction plane is provided or not.

 On the opposite side to the ring 25, the body 11 of the female portion 10 ends for example with a tip 14 at the tail of fir to connect the tube T2 to the connector.

Finally, with reference to FIG. 8, there is shown a double connector formed of two simple connectors id corresponding to connection ld of FIG. 4 and into which the two tubes T1 and
T2 which form the two parts maies fittings, respectively. Of course, according to the invention, different double connectors can be made from two single connections described in FIGS. 1 to 6, all combinations being conceivable.
All previous connections which have a reaction plane formed by the sleeve 30 advantageously provided for flexible tubes, can also be used in the case of semi-rigid tubes.

Claims (13)

1 - Quick coupling of the type comprising two pieces respectively male and female interlocking one into the other with the interposition of at least one seal, and a locking device comprising at least one clamping jaw ring elastically deformable housing housed in the female part formed of a generally cylindrical body (II) and a locking ring, the male part being constituted by the free end portion of one of the two tubular elements or tubes to be connected to each other. the other, characterized in that the locking ring (25) is fixed to the female part <10) and it exerts on the clamping jaw (20A, once the tube (T1) forming the male part engaged in this ci, both radial compression forces to compress it around the tube CT1) and axial compression forces to compress the seal (lóa) axially aligned with the jaw (20).  2.- quick coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping jaw (20) has at least one outer frustoconical surface (20c) which cooperates with an inner frustoconical surface (25d) of complementary shape provided in the locking ring (25) to obtain the aforementioned compressive forces.  3.- quick coupling according to claim 1 or 2, curacterized in that the clamping jaw (20) comprises a cylindrical portion (20a) extended axially by a frustoconical portion C20b) which has the outer bearing (20c), the cylindrical portion (20a) being connected externally to the frustoconical portion (20b) by a radial annular shoulder (21),  4. A quick coupling according to claim 3 characterized in that the cylindrical portion (20a) and the frustoconical portion (20b) of the jaw <20) have an inner peripheral surface of a substantially constant diameter.  5. A quick coupling according to claim 3 or 41 characterized in that the frustoconical portion (20b?) Of the clamping jaw (20) has teeth (22) has its inner peripheral surface  Fast coupling according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking ring (25) has two external coaxial skirts (25a) and inner (25b, 25c) joined at one end by a wall of bottom and defining between them an annular housing (26>, the inner skirt internally having a cylindrical portion f25b) extended axially by a frustoconical portion (25c) which delimits the internal frustoconical bearing surface (25d) above, the cylindrical portion (25b) connecting internally to the frustoconical portion (25c) by a radial annular shoulder (27).  T.- Quick coupling according to claim 61 characterized in that the clamping jaw (20) is preassembled by snapping into the locking ring C25) once their respective shoulders (21> 27) rest against each other  8. A quick coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking ring is fixed to the female part (10) by latching means comprising at least two lugs (11a) diametrically opposite provided at the outer peripheral surface of the body (11) of the female part (10) and two notches (lob) diametrically opposite provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer skirt (25a) of the locking ring C25) and which are located at the annular housing (26) defined between the two skirts (25a, 25b, 25c) of the ring (25), housing (26) in which is engaged an end of the body (11 'of the female part (10>.  9. A quick coupling according to claim 8, characterized in that the latching means comprise two series of at least two lugs (11a, 11a1) axially offset which cooperate with two series of notches (11b, 11b1) axially offset, the lugs (11a) being initially received in the notches' lbl) during assembly operations of the coupling and, once the tube (T1) engaged in the jaw (20), the locking ring (25) is moved axially to bring the lugs (11a) in the notches (lIb) and lugs (llal) in the notches kllbl) to complete the locking of the fitting.  10. Quick coupling according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking ring (25) has a peripheral surface  truncated cone which delimits the internal frustoconical surface C25d) mentioned above.  11.- quick coupling according to claim 1O, characterized in that the clamping jaw (20) is preassembled by snapping into the locking ring (25), one end thereof bearing against the shoulder (21). the clamping jaw (20).  12. A quick connector according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking ring (25) is fixed to the female part (10> by latching means comprising a shoulder (85) provided on the inner peripheral surface of the body. (Of the female part and against which abuts an end surface of the ring (25) once it fully housed inside the body (11).  13. A quick coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device is completed by a rigid sleeve (3 ()) housed inside the body (11) of the female part (10). and whose outer peripheral surface forms a reaction surface to the radial compression forces exerted by the locking ring (25> on the clamping jaw C20), the end portion of the tube CT1) being engaged between the clamping jaw ( 20) and the sleeve (30).  14.- quick coupling according to claim '3, characterized in that the sleeve (80) is integral with the body (11) of the female part (10).  5.- Quick coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that the sleeve (30) is removable.  16. A quick coupling according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the sleeve (30) has an outer annular boss (32) which applies radial compressive forces to the seal (16a).  17.- quick coupling according to claim 16, characterized by the presence of a single seal (16a).  18.- quick coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (11) of the female part (10) has at least three successive housings (12a, 12b, 12c) of decreasing diameter respectively delimited by three shoulders (13as13b, 13c), the clamping jaw (20), the seal (16a) and the end of the tube CT1 respectively being placed in these three housings C12a, 12b, 12c).  19. A quick connector according to claim 18, characterized in that the inner skirt <25b, 25c) of the ring (25) is received in the housing (12a) around the clamping jaw (20).  20.- quick coupling according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the outer boss C32) of the sleeve (30) is located in the housing (12c) of smaller diameter to cause expansion of the end of the tube (T1 ) which causes a radial compression of the seal (16a) located in the intermediate housing C12b).