GB1460629A - Releasable coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

1460629 Pipe and shaft couplings LACREX BREVETTI SA 4 June 1974 [5 June 1973] 24650/74 Headings F2G and F2U A releasable pipe or shaft coupling comprises a male member 1 having an extension 5 in the peripheral surface of which is provided a circumferential locking groove 10, a retaining sleeve 18, slidably retractable on the male member against the action of a spring 19 and provided with a jacket 26 surrounding the groove 10 and spaced radially therefrom, and a female member 2 forming a socket 6 for reception of the extension 5 of the male member 1, the female member having at least three fingers 13 provided thereon each with a boss 14 to engage in the groove 10, an outer jacket 34 to surround the jacket 26, and an inner guide pipe 33 located radially inwardly of the fingers 13 to lie inside the extension 5 of the male member and to abut a shoulder 37 therein. A sealing ring 7 is provided within the female member to seal around the forward end of the extension 5. When the two members 1, 2 are inserted into one another the bevelled surface of the extension 9 spreads the fingers 13 which then contact the forward edge of the jacket 26 pushing back the retaining sleeve 18 until the bosses 14 enter the groove 10 whereupon the spring 19 returns the sleeve 18 to the position shown in Fig. 1, the jacket 26 retaining the bosses 14 in position in the groove 10. Release of the members 1, 2 is effected by pulling them apart after manual movement of the sleeve 18 against the action of the spring 19. The coupling may also be used for rotatable shafts in which case the groove 10 extends only over small portions of the periphery of the extension 5 corresponding to the width of the bosses 14 thus preventing relative rotation of the members 1, 2.