GB1011786A - Improvements in pipe couplings - Google Patents

Abstract

1,011,786. Pipe couplings. HIGH TEMPERATURE ENGINEERS Ltd. Nov. 2, 1964 [Nov. 13, 1963], No. 44895/63. Heading F2G. The nipple and socket assemblies of a pipe coupling comprise tubular bodies 1, 25, integral with, or adapted to be secured to, pipes to be connected and having at least one port 9, 31 formed in the walls thereof near the closed ends 3, 27 of the bodies, valve sleeves 11, 35 being slidably mounted on the bodies adapted, when the coupling is disconnected, to seal the ports, and connecting sleeves 7, 32 rigidly mounted on the bodies at positions remote from the closed ends of the bodies surround the valve sleeves. The end parts of the valve sleeve and connecting sleeve of the socket assembly at the end nearer the closed end 27 of the body 25 are adapted, when the coupling is connected, to engage closely around the corresponding end parts of the valve sleeve and connecting sleeve of the nipple assembly. The socket assembly is provided with a control member which is drivably connected to the valve sleeve 35 and is adapted to control the positions of locking elements, e.g. rows of balls 63, 44, mounted in the valve sleeve and connecting sleeve 32 so as to effect locking engagement in and release thereof from corresponding recesses 23, 21 in the valve sleeve 11 and connecting sleeve 7; the arrangement is such that, during operation of the control member, after the end parts of the connecting sleeve 32 and valve sleeve 35 have been at least partly engaged over the end parts of the connecting sleeve 7 and valve sleeve 11 by bringing the assemblies together in coaxial end-to-end relationship, the balls 44 in the connecting sleeve 32 will be forced into and retained in engagement with the recess 21, at the same time the balls 63 in the valve sleeve 35 will be forced into and retained in engagement with the recess 23 and thereafter both valve sleeves will be displaced together from the position in which the ports 9, 31 are sealed off to a position in which a passage 38 interconnecting the ports is formed between the outer end surface parts of the bodies 1, 25 and the interior wall surface part of the valve sleeve 35. As shownthe control member comprises a handle 58 rigidly connected to an axially slidable locking sleeve 46 and coupled for axial sliding movement with the valve sleeve 35. The assemblies are brought into axial alignment so that a balk ring 42 engages over the sleeve 7 and continued thrust on the handle 58 causes the ring to be displaced against the pressure of spring 43 permitting the balls 44 to drop into groove 21, the locking ring 45 and locking sleeve 46 being then free to advance relatively to the sleeve 32 until the balls 49 enter the groove 51 in the sleeve 35. The locking sleeve 46 and valve sleeve 35 now advance relatively to the sleeve 32 so that the balls 49 are positively held in the groove 51 by the sleeve 46 while at the same time the balls 44 are held in the groove 21 by the ring 45. During advance of the sleeve valve 35 together with the locking sleeve 46 the balls 63 ride up and into the groove 22 and out of the latter and into the groove 23, the valve sleeves 11, 35 then being locked together and at the end of the advance movement communication is established between the interiors of the bodies 1, 25 via the slots 9, 31. Finally, the locking sleeve is rotated by the handle 58 so as to lock on a pin 54 to prevent disengagement of the assemblies. In a modification, the control member includes a sleeve on the socket assembly which is rotatable relatively to the locking sleeve thereof and, when rotated after the connecting sleeves of the two assemblies have been locked together, operates through a cam mechanism to displace the valve sleeve 35 axially towards the nipple assembly.