GB2081830A - Fluid conduit connector - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described a connector 1 for connecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure wherein fluid may be diverted to a tank feed pipe 72 or to the conduit in dependence on the presence or otherwise of a male connector 60 within said connector. To this end the male connector operates a dual valve 40 to divert the fluid under pressure to one of two outlets 11, 12 in the connector. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector for connecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid This invention relates to a connectorforconnecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for connecting a flu#id conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure, the connector comprising a housing having two outlets and an inlet, a connection sleeve within said housing, releasable locking means in said connection sleeve for coaction with a male connector on the fluid conduit, and valve means in the connection sleeve operable on insertion of a male connector such that fluid from the inlet is passed to one of the outlets when a male connector is inserted and is passed to the other of the outlets when a male connector is not inserted.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a connector made in accordance with the present invention fitted to a control valve; and Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the connector fitted with a male connector.

Referring to the drawings, a connector, shown generally at 1, comprises a housing 10 having a first outlet port 11, a second outlet port 12 and an inlet port 13. The outlet ports 11 and 12 are positioned at respective ends of an axial through bore 20 in the housing 10 whereas the inlet port 13 is positioned intermediate the ends.

A A female connection sleeve 30 is received within the bore 20 and is provided with fluid-tight seals 31 and 32 on either side of radial openings 33 in the sleeve so that flow of fluid from the inlet port 13 passes through the opening 33 into a chamber 34 from whence it is directed to one or other of the outlets by means of a dual valve 40.

The dual valve 40 includes a poppet valve 41 which is urged against a frusto-conical seat 42 formed in the connection sleeve 30 by a spring 43. In this position, as illustrated in Figure 1, radial openings 44 are in communication with the chamber 34 and fluid flows from the inlet port 13, through the radial opening 33 into chamber 34 and thence through radial openings 44 in an axial bore in the valve 41 to the outlet port 12.

When a male connector 60 is inserted at the inlet port 11 the connection sleeve 30 moves downwardly against the action of a compression spring 38 until detent balls 50 move into the circumferential groove 51 in the housing 10 allowing the male connector to be engaged in a known manner.

In this condition, as illustrated in Figure 2, the poppet valve 41 is pushed away from the seat 42 by a similar poppet valve 61 in the male connector 60.

The radial openings 44 are now closed off by the wall 39 of the sleeve 30 and fluid flows from the inlet port 13 through the chamber 34 to outlet port 11 to which the male connector 60 is inserted.

Advantageously, the connector of the invention is used in connection with a fluid control valve part of which is illustrated and indicated by reference numeral 70. The control valve 70 has a high pressure supply gallery 71 which connects with the inlet port 13 ofthe connector through a passage 91 in an adaptor 90. The outlet 12 of the connector 1 connects, through a short conduit 92 in the adaptor 90, with a tank gallery 72.

When an implement is to be used, its male connector 60 is fitted to the connector 1 thus opening the poppet valve 41 of the dual valve 40.

When the control valve 80 is operated to cause fluid to flow out of the supply gallery 71, the fluid flows to the outlet 11 as has been described above and the implement can be used normally.

Should the male connector 60 break away inadvertently from the connector 1, the poppet valve 41 immediately closes off the outlet 11 and fluid flow is diverted to outlet 12 and thence to tank.

Similarly, if the control valve is operated to cause fluid flow to the connector when no implement is fitted the connector diverts such flow to tank and thus obviates the risk of a "blank end" being presented to the supply valve.

Further, the design of the connector of the present invention has particular application for double acting valves, which are thus automatically converted from double acting to single acting and vice versa by the presence or otherwise of a male connector at the appropriate outlet.

Also, by virtue of the outlet 12 being connected to tank, there can be no column of fluid resisting movement of the sleeve 30 on insertion of a male connector.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

CLAIMS (Filed on 1018/81) 1. A connector for connecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure, the connector comprising a housing having two outlets and an inlet, a connection sleeve within said housing, releasable locking means in said connection sleeve for coaction with a male connector on the fluid conduit, and valve means in the connection sleeve operable on insertion of a male connector such that fluid from the inlet is passed to one of the outlets when a male connector is inserted and is passed to the other of the outlets when a male connector is not inserted.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said valve means is in the form of a dual valve.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said dual valve includes a poppet valve.

4. A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said inlet is connectable to a source of high pressure fluid, said one outlet is connectable to a fluid operated implement, and said other outlet is connectable to tank.

5. A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim fitted to a hydraulic fluid control valve.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Connector for connecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid This invention relates to a connectorforconnecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure. According to the present invention there is provided a connector for connecting a flu#id conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure, the connector comprising a housing having two outlets and an inlet, a connection sleeve within said housing, releasable locking means in said connection sleeve for coaction with a male connector on the fluid conduit, and valve means in the connection sleeve operable on insertion of a male connector such that fluid from the inlet is passed to one of the outlets when a male connector is inserted and is passed to the other of the outlets when a male connector is not inserted. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a connector made in accordance with the present invention fitted to a control valve; and Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the connector fitted with a male connector. Referring to the drawings, a connector, shown generally at 1, comprises a housing 10 having a first outlet port 11, a second outlet port 12 and an inlet port 13. The outlet ports 11 and 12 are positioned at respective ends of an axial through bore 20 in the housing 10 whereas the inlet port 13 is positioned intermediate the ends. A A female connection sleeve 30 is received within the bore 20 and is provided with fluid-tight seals 31 and 32 on either side of radial openings 33 in the sleeve so that flow of fluid from the inlet port 13 passes through the opening 33 into a chamber 34 from whence it is directed to one or other of the outlets by means of a dual valve 40. The dual valve 40 includes a poppet valve 41 which is urged against a frusto-conical seat 42 formed in the connection sleeve 30 by a spring 43. In this position, as illustrated in Figure 1, radial openings 44 are in communication with the chamber 34 and fluid flows from the inlet port 13, through the radial opening 33 into chamber 34 and thence through radial openings 44 in an axial bore in the valve 41 to the outlet port 12. When a male connector 60 is inserted at the inlet port 11 the connection sleeve 30 moves downwardly against the action of a compression spring 38 until detent balls 50 move into the circumferential groove 51 in the housing 10 allowing the male connector to be engaged in a known manner. In this condition, as illustrated in Figure 2, the poppet valve 41 is pushed away from the seat 42 by a similar poppet valve 61 in the male connector 60. The radial openings 44 are now closed off by the wall 39 of the sleeve 30 and fluid flows from the inlet port 13 through the chamber 34 to outlet port 11 to which the male connector 60 is inserted. Advantageously, the connector of the invention is used in connection with a fluid control valve part of which is illustrated and indicated by reference numeral 70. The control valve 70 has a high pressure supply gallery 71 which connects with the inlet port 13 ofthe connector through a passage 91 in an adaptor 90. The outlet 12 of the connector 1 connects, through a short conduit 92 in the adaptor 90, with a tank gallery 72. When an implement is to be used, its male connector 60 is fitted to the connector 1 thus opening the poppet valve 41 of the dual valve 40. When the control valve 80 is operated to cause fluid to flow out of the supply gallery 71, the fluid flows to the outlet 11 as has been described above and the implement can be used normally. Should the male connector 60 break away inadvertently from the connector 1, the poppet valve 41 immediately closes off the outlet 11 and fluid flow is diverted to outlet 12 and thence to tank. Similarly, if the control valve is operated to cause fluid flow to the connector when no implement is fitted the connector diverts such flow to tank and thus obviates the risk of a "blank end" being presented to the supply valve. Further, the design of the connector of the present invention has particular application for double acting valves, which are thus automatically converted from double acting to single acting and vice versa by the presence or otherwise of a male connector at the appropriate outlet. Also, by virtue of the outlet 12 being connected to tank, there can be no column of fluid resisting movement of the sleeve 30 on insertion of a male connector. Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS (Filed on 1018/81)

1. A connector for connecting a fluid conduit to a supply of fluid under pressure, the connector comprising a housing having two outlets and an inlet, a connection sleeve within said housing, releasable locking means in said connection sleeve for coaction with a male connector on the fluid conduit, and valve means in the connection sleeve operable on insertion of a male connector such that fluid from the inlet is passed to one of the outlets when a male connector is inserted and is passed to the other of the outlets when a male connector is not inserted.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said valve means is in the form of a dual valve.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said dual valve includes a poppet valve.

4. A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said inlet is connectable to a source of high pressure fluid, said one outlet is connectable to a fluid operated implement, and said other outlet is connectable to tank.

5. A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim fitted to a hydraulic fluid control valve.

6. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.