GB2077872A

GB2077872A - Pipe Coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2077872A
Application number: GB8015823A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: White E A White D J
Current assignee: White E A White D J
Priority date: 1980-05-13
Filing date: 1980-05-13
Publication date: 1981-12-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe coupling for the interconnection of hydraulic and/or air lines for tractor and trailer units, and comprises a frame member (2) carrying a plurality of male coupling parts (6) and a frame receiving member (4) which carries a plurality of female coupling parts (8). The frame receiving member (4) has a tapered mouth (34) whereby the frame member (2) is guided into alignment with the frame receiving member (4) so permitting the connection of several lines simultaneously. A locking plate (10) operated by a push rod 16 serves to actuate the locking sleeves (12 and associated balls of the female coupling parts simultaneously. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe Coupling The present invention relates to a pipe coupling.

An individual pipe coupling for interconnecting hydraulic/air lines is known in which the coupling comprises a plug and socket member, the socket member is provided with a collar for locking and unlocking the two members and the plug and socket members are self sealing when unconnected. Such couplings are frequently used where the hydraulics of a towing vehicle, e.g. an agricultural tractor, have to be coupled to the hydraulics of a trailer. Often, several pipe connectors are required and up to now each line has had to be connected manually one at a time.

This is time consuming and care has to be taken to ensure that the correct plug and socket member are connected together.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe coupling whereby a number of fluid lines can be connected simultaneously and in the correct relationship.

According to the present invention there is provided a pipe coupling comprising a plurality of first coupling parts carried by a frame member and a plurality of second coupling parts carried by a frame receiving member, which parts can be fitted together into a coupled condition and which parts can be separated by relative axial movement, the respective first or the respective second coupling parts carrying respective locking sleeves, and a locking plate which is displaceable by actuating means and is engageable with the respective locking sleeves to actuate means to lock the parts together when coupled.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second coupling parts are respectively male and female coupling parts and the frame receiving member surrounds the second coupling parts, which are attached to a base portion thereof, and a mouth portion of the surrounding frame receiving member has a tapered collar by means of which the frame is guided into the coupled condition.

Conveniently the frame member is secured to a trailer and the frame receiving member is secured to a tractor or towing vehicle in such a position that upon coupling of the tractor to the trailer the coupling parts are automatically connected. The coupling parts are connected to hydraulic/air lines and are self sealing when uncoupled. The actuating means may conveniently be actuated simultaneously with means for unlocking a connection between the tractor and trailer.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the coupling parts when uncoupled, and Fig. 2 is an end view of the frame receiving member.

In the drawings the coupling comprises a frame member 2, to which are attached four first coupling parts 6 which form the male half of hydraulic/air line connectors, and a frame receiving member 4 to which are attached four second coupling parts 8 which form the female half of the hydraulic/air line connectors. The first and second coupling parts can be fitted into one another and each of the four line connectors are substantially identical in construction. The second coupling part carries an annularly disposed locking element not shown in detail but which incorporates balls supported in wall openings which engage in an annular groove formed in the first coupling part.An axially displaceable locking sleeve 12 moveable against a spring force retains the balls in the annular groove in a first position to lock the first and second parts together and in a second position allows movement of the balls out of the groove to permit release of the first coupling part from the second coupling part. In the illustrated embodiment a locking plate 10 is provided with four arcuate cut outs 14 the edges of which co-operate into at least a portion of the locking sleeves 12. A push rod 16 passes through a hole 18 in the locking plate 10 and has a threaded end 20 adjacent to the locking plate. A pair of nuts 22, 24 disposed on opposite sides of the locking plate threadingly engage with the rod and permit axial adjustment of the positions of the locking plate with respect to the push rod.The end of the push rod remote from the locking plate has a slot 26 formed therein which receives a wedge shaped peg 28. Displacement of the peg generates axial movement of the push rod 16 to displace the locking sleeves in a direction to release the locking balls. The locking plate is resiliently biased into the locked position when the wedge is displaced to the left in Fig. 1.

It is envisaged that the coupling be used primarily for interconnecting the hydraulic/air lines of a tractor trailer combination, in which case the frame receiving member is usually secured to the towing vehicle, for example an agricultural tractor and the frame member is usually secured to the trailer e.g. an agricultural implement to be used.

The respective first and second coupling parts are self sealing i.e. when uncoupled the lines are sealed off to prevent loss of fluid.

The frame receiving member 4 comprises a base portion 30 which is rectangular and which has upstanding side walls 32 attached to its edges. Attached to the side walls at their free ends is a tapered collar 34 which surrounds the opening of the frame receiving member. The frame member is so shaped to fit within the side walls 32 and the tapered collar 34 serves to guide the frame member into the opening defined by the walls of the frame receiving member. The first and second coupling parts have threaded portions 36 for connection with the hydraulic/air lines.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a pipe coupling having four pipe connections the invention may be applied to a coupling having two or more connectors. The frame receiving member may be any other convenient shape rather than rectangular, e.g.

circular.

Although not shown, it is envisaged that the frame receiving member and the frame member be so shaped as the spacing of the connectors be such that the connection cannot be made incorrectly. Thus for example one pair of connectors may be closer together than the other pair.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling comprising a plurality of first coupling parts carried by a frame member and a plurality of second coupling parts carried by a frame receiving member, which parts can be separated by relative axial movement, the respective first or the respective second coupling parts carrying respective locking sleeves, and a locking plate which is displaceable by actuating means and which is engageable with the respective locking sleeves to actuate means to lock the parts together when coupled.

2. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second coupling parts are respectively male and female coupling parts and the frame receiving member surrounds the second coupling parts, which are attached to a base portion thereof, and a mouth portion of the surrounding frame member has a tapered collar by means of which the frame is guided into its coupled condition.

3. A pipe coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which each of the second coupling parts carries a co-axially disposed annular locking element which co-operates with balls supported in wall openings of the second coupling parts and which are adapted to engage in an annular groove formed in the first coupling part.

4. A pipe coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the locking plate has a cut out for each of the said second coupling parts and the edge of the cut out co-operates with a flange carried by the locking sleeve.

5. A pipe coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which a push rod secured to the locking plate is engaged by a wedge-shaped actuating cam whereby displacement of the cam displaces the locking plate in a direction to permit separation of the first and second coupling parts:

6. A pipe coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the frame receiving member defines a rectangular opening and the frame member is correspondingly shaped.

7. A pipe coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the spacing and/or size of the first and second coupling parts is such that they cannot be coupled incorrectly.

8. A pipe coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the frame member is attached to a tractor or towing vehicle and the frame receiving member is attached to a trailer in such a position that the coupling of the first and second coupling parts is effected automatically upon coupling of the tractor and trailer.

9. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 8 in which the first and second coupling parts are connected to hydraulic and/or air lines and are self sealing when uncoupled.

10. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which the actuating means is actuated simultaneously with the means for unlocking a connection between the tractor and trailer.

11. A pipe coupling constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.