GB2294516A - Rotary connection for hoses - Google Patents

Abstract

The connection comprises a first member 10 coupled to a first hose and a second member 20 coupled to a second hose, the members being removably coupled together and able to rotate substantially freely relative to each other, allowing relative rotation of the hoses; a sealing means 24 is provided between the members 10, 20 to prevent escape of fluid from the hose connection. The members 10, 20 are respectively male and female portions and the sealing means 24 is an O-ring located in a groove 23 in the inner wall of the female portion 20. The members 10, 20 are, in use, held together by a third connection member 30 which is permanently attached to, and may rotate relative to the second member 20, and is detachable from, but in use rotationally locked with respect to, the first member 10 by means of a bayonet connection 16, 36, lockable by a spring-biassed sleeve 12 on the member 10. The sealing means 24 may seat between the members 10, 20 axially. The member 20 may have a valve openable by the connection of the members 10, 20. <IMAGE>

Description

"Hose Connection" This invention relates to a hose connection and especially to a two element hose connection for connecting two lengths of hose and allowing one length of hose to rotate axially relative to the other.

Two element hose connections, in which each element attaches to one of two pieces of hose to be connected, have been known and used for a considerable length of time. Often such connections are required to connect two lengths of hose only temporarily and also to allow rapid coupling or uncoupling.

A typical quick coupling two element hose connection comprises a male element and a female element, in the form of a male connection member and a female connection member, respectively, which may be connected by insertion of a part of the male connection member into a complementary part of the female connection member and may be secured or locked together by relative rotation of securing elements attached to the male and female connection members. The securing elements are generally in the form of lugs or protuberances on one connection member which may be engaged in a groove in, or behind a member on, the other connection member by the relative rotation of the two connection members.However, in order to avoid unintentional separation of the male and female connection members of such connections it is necessary to ensure that the securing elements and the male and female connection members cannot inadvertently rotate relative to each other.

In use, as a result of movement of hoses and of winding and unwinding of hoses onto drums for storage, twisting and resultant twisting forces may occur in the hoses.

Such twisting forces are undesirable under normal circumstances and may lead to the hoses being difficult to control and also to damage or disconnection of the elements of hose connections.

In order to avoid or mitigate the undesirable effects of twisting forces, hose connections have been made which allow the lengths of hose to rotate (about their axes) substantially freely relative to one another, thus preventing such forces from being transmitted into or through the connections. A requirement of such a connection is that fluid from inside the hoses should be prevented from escaping at the site of the connection.

A hose connection of this type typically comprises two generally cylindrical connection members, the first being a male connection member and the second being a female connection member, the two connection members being free to rotate relative to each other and having at least one seal provided between them in order to prevent escape of the fluid which flows through the hoses and the hose connection. The two connection members are generally permanently connected together by insertion of an elongate portion of the first, male, connection member provided with a flange, into a complementary cavity provided in the second, female, connection member and subsequent crimping of a portion of the second, female, connection member at the axially outward side of the flange.The crimped portion of the second, female, connection member prevents withdrawal of the flanged portion of the first, male, connection member from the female connection member. A hose connection of this type is illustrated in Figs. 5a to Sc.

Such a permanent connection cannot be used as a quick coupling hose connection. Furthermore, this type of connection suffers from the disadvantage that the seal is situated between the two permanently coupled connection members, and may therefore not be replaced when it becomes worn.

According to the present invention there is provided a hose connection comprising a first connection member having an axial bore, said first connection member being adapted to be coupled to a first hose; a second connection member having an axial bore, said second connection member being adapted to be coupled to a second hose; said first and second connection members being adapted to be removably coupled together so as to provide connection of said first and second hoses through the respective axial bores of said first and second connection members, said first and second connection members being capable of rotating substantially freely relative to each other, wherein sealing means is provided between said first and second connection members to prevent escape of fluid from said hose connection when said first and second connection members are connected together.

Preferably, said sealing means comprises a sealing member, and preferably said hose connection is adapted to allow said sealing member to be accessed and/or replaced when said first and second connection members are not connected together.

Preferably, there is provided a third connection member adapted to couple said first connection member to said second connection member, which, when said members are coupled, may rotate relative to said second connection member and is substantially rotationally fixed with respect to said first connection member.

Preferably, said third connection member is permanently coupled to said second connection member and may be uncoupled from said first connection member in order to uncouple said first and second connection members.

Preferably, one of said first and second connection members is a male connection member and the other is a female connection member, said male connection member having an elongate portion adapted to be inserted into a complementary cavity in said female connection member.

Preferably, said sealing member is provided so that in use it provides a seal between the outer surface of the elongate portion of the male connection member and the inner surface of the wall defining the cavity in the female connection member.

Preferably, said sealing member is provided in a circumferential groove in said inner surface of the wall of said female connection member.

Preferably, said sealing member is an 0-ring.

Preferably, said hose connection is a quick coupling hose connection.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l is an external view of an embodiment of a hose connection according to the present invention; Fig.2 is a partial cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig.l; Fig.3 is a partial cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a hose connection according to the present invention; Fig.4 is a partial cross sectional view of a third embodiment of a hose connection according to the present invention; and Figs.5a, Sb and Sc are cross sectional views of a prior art hose connection.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 a first embodiment of a hose connection according to the present invention comprises a first, male, connection member 10, a second, female, connection member 20 and a third connection member 30 in the form of a generally cylindrical sleeve. A crimping ring portion 38 of the third connection member 30 is crimped onto the second, female, connection member 20 so as to permanently couple the second and third connection members 20, 30 but so as to allow said second and third connection members 20, 30 to rotate substantially freely relative to each other.

The first, male, connection member 10 includes an elongate generally cylindrical portion 15 which is adapted to fit inside the second, female, connection member 20. The cylindrical portion 15 is provided with a pair of radially extending lugs 16 and the third connection member 30 is provided with a pair of inwardly extending lugs 36. The first connection member 10 may be coupled to the third connection member 30 by inserting the cylindrical portion 15 of the first connection member 10 into the second connection member 20 until the outwardly extending lugs 16 pass the inwardly extending lugs 36 of the third connection member 30, then rotating the first and third rotation members 10, 30 relative to each other.An appropriate degree of rotation causes the inwardly extending lugs 36 to engage the outwardly extending lugs 16 and thus prevent the cylindrical portion 15 from moving axially out of or away from the second connection member 20, thus coupling the first connection member 10 to the third connection member 30 (and thus coupling the first connection member 10 to the second connection member 20).

The first, male, connection member 10 has mounted upon it a locking ring 12 with a shaped end portion 13 adapted to engage a complementarily shaped end portion 33 of the third connection member 30. The locking ring 12 is biased towards the third connection member 30 by a spring 17.

When the first 10 and third 30 connection members are coupled together the abutting shaped portions 13, 33 cooperate to prevent relative twisting of the first and third connection members 10, 30 thus locking them in their coupled position. The shaped portion 13 of the locking ring 12 is maintained in contact with the shaped portion 33 of the third connection member by the action of the spring 17, but may be manually disengaged from the shaped portion 33 in order to allow uncoupling of the first and third coupling members 10, 30.

The inner wall of the second, female, connection member 20 is provided with an annular recess 23 in which is provided a sealing member in the form of an O-ring 24.

Insertion of the cylindrical portion 15 into the second, female, connection member 20 deforms the O-ring slightly, providing an effective seal between the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 15 and the inner wall of the second connection member 20. Thus, escape of fluid from the bore portions to the outside of the hose connection is prevented. The cylindrical portion 15 has a bevelled leading end 19 to enable passage past the O-ring 24 without damaging it.

The provision of the O-ring 24 in the annular recess 23 in the inner wall of the second, female, connection member 20 means that after uncoupling of the first 10 and third 30 connection members and withdrawal of the cylindrical portion 15 from the second, female, connection member 20, the O-ring 24 is exposed and may be removed, for example for replacement. In this embodiment it is evident that no seal is required between the second connection member 20 and third connection member 30.

Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a hose connection according to the present invention.

The embodiment of Fig.3 has many similarities to the embodiment of Fig.2 and corresponding elements will be designated by corresponding reference numerals suffixed by the digit 3.

In the embodiment of Fig.3 an O-ring 324 is located in an annular recess 333 provided in the inner wall of the third connection 330 member and thus provides a seal between the first and third connection members 310, 330. The second connection member 320 is not provided with a portion into which the cylindrical portion 315 of the first connection member may fit but instead is provided with an end portion 329 which is held in position, adjacent the end of the cylindrical portion 315 by the coupling action of the third connection member 330. A double face seal 340 is provided between the end portion 329 of the second connection member 320 and the end of the cylindrical portion 315 of the first connection member 310. The double face seal 340 also provides a seal between the end portion 329 of the second connection member 320 and an internal face of the third connection member 330.

When the first connection member 310 is uncoupled from the second and third connection members 20, 30 both the O-ring 324 and the double face seal 340 are accessible via the open end of the third connection member 330.

If the seal between the first and second connection members 310, 320 and the seal between the second and third connection members 320, 330, which are provided by the double face seal 340 are sufficiently good, the O-ring 324 and the recess 332 in which said O-ring 324 is located, are not necessary.

Fig.4 shows a third embodiment of a hose connection according to the present invention. This embodiment is similar in principle to the embodiment of Fig.2 and illustrates how the present invention may be included in a hose connection having a known automatic valve mechanism adapted to cause the flow of fluid to cease upon uncoupling of the two elements of the hose connection. The embodiment of Fig.4 includes many elements in common with the embodiment of Fig.2.

Elements of the embodiment of Fig.4 which correspond to elements of the embodiment of Fig.2 are designated by corresponding reference numerals prefixed by the digit 4.

In the embodiment of Fig.4 the seal between the cylindrical portion 415 of the first connection member 410, and the second connection member 420, is provided by an O-ring 424. The O-ring 424 is provided in a recess 423 in the inner wall of the second connection member 420 and is accessible upon uncoupling of the first connection member 410 from the third connection member 430, and withdrawal of the cylindrical portion 415.

Figs. Sa, 5b and Sc illustrate the assembly and structure of a prior art two element hose connection which is adapted to allow the two lengths of hose being connected to rotate relative to each other.

Fig 5a shows, separately, a first, female connection member 510 having an axial bore 511, an internal shoulder 515 and a crimping ring portion 518, and a second, male, connection member 520 having an axial bore 521, a flange portion 525 and being provided with an annular seal 528. Assembly of the connection consists of inserting the second, male, connection member 520 into the first, female, connection member 510, so that the flange portion 525 is inserted past the crimping ring 518, as shown in Fig. 5b, followed by locking the two connection members 510, 520 together by crimping the crimping ring 518, into the position shown in Fig 5c.Thus, the two connection members 510, 520 are permanently connected together, able to rotate relative to one another and fluid is prevented from escaping from the connection by the provision of the seal 528 between the internal shoulder of the first, female, connection member 510 and the flange portion 525 of the second, male, connection member 520.

However, the seal 528 is enclosed by the permanently joined connection members 510, 520 and is therefore inaccessible and cannot be replaced.

The described embodiments of the present invention provide hose connections which allow the two lengths of hose connected to rotate with respect to each other, but which, in contrast to the prior art, allow access to, and replacement of, the seals.

Furthermore, the described embodiments provide hose connections the elements of which may be rapidly coupled or uncoupled and in which the uncoupling and separation of the elements allows access to the seals.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A hose connection comprising a first connection member having an axial bore, said first connection member being adapted to be coupled to a first hose; a second connection member having an axial bore, said second connection member being adapted to be coupled to a second hose; said first and second connection members being adapted to be removably coupled together so as to provide connection of said first and second hoses through the respective axial bores of said first and second connection members, said first and second connection members being capable of rotating substantially freely relative to each other, wherein sealing means is provided between said first and second connection members to prevent escape of fluid from said hose connection when said first and second connection members are connected together.

2. A hose connection as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a sealing member and said hose connection is adapted to allow said sealing member to be accessed and/or replaced when said first and second connection members are not connected together.

3. A hose connection as claimed in either preceding Claim, wherein there is provided a third connection member adapted to couple said first connection member to said second connection member, which, when said members are coupled, may rotate relative to said second connection member and is substantially rotationally fixed with respect to said first connection member.

4. A hose connection as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said third connection member is permanently coupled to said second connection member and may be uncoupled from said first connection member in order to uncouple said first and second connection members.

5. A hose connection as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein one of said first and second connection members is a male connection member and the other is a female connection member, said male connection member having an elongate portion adapted to be inserted into a complementary cavity in said female connection member.

6. A hose connection as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said sealing member is provided so that in use it provides a seal between the outer surface of the elongate portion of the male connection member and the inner surface of the wall defining the cavity in the female connection member.

7. A hose connection as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said sealing member is provided in a circumferential groove in said inner surface of the wall of said female connection member.

8. A hose connection as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein said sealing member is an O-ring.

9. A hose connection as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said hose connection is a quick coupling hose connection.

10. A hose connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 3, or Fig. 4.