GB2358447A

GB2358447A - Hose coupling member including a sleeve having limited axial movement

Info

Publication number: GB2358447A
Application number: GB0001110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Jeory; Christine Patricia Jeory; Stephen Gerard Ward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-18
Filing date: 2000-01-18
Publication date: 2001-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-18
Also published as: GB2358447B; GB0001110D0

Abstract

A hose coupling member comprises a tubular body having at one end a tail portion to receive a hose end, and at the other end a part for engagement with a complementary hose coupler which may be adapted to receive a further hose end. A spring biassed tubular sleeve 33 capable of axial movement is mounted co-axially with the tubular body, with means to limit the axial movement. The limiting means comprises a member freely movable between an axial slot 31 and an aperture 32 aligned with the slot, one in the tubular body and one in the sleeve so that the member is wholly contained between the sleeve and the body. Preferably the freely movably member is a ball bearing 30. The coupler may be used to join two high pressure flexible hoses of the type used in fire fighting.

Description

2358447 A HOSE COUPLER THIS INVENTION concerns coupling devices for

joining the ends of two flexible hoses and is particularly, though not exclusively, for use in the connection of high pressure water hoses used in fire fighting. The invention is specifically concerned with a coupler being one part of a two-part hose coupling and adapted to receive one hose end.

Typically, on a fire tender, each hose reel, being in the region of 55 metres long, may consist of three 18m separate hose sections coupled together. Because of the constraints of the maximum diameter of such a hose when reeled, it is essential for the coupling to be of minimal length and diameter to permit the hose to wrap around the reel closely and without bulging.

Couplings of this kind have on one of the couplers a spring loaded sleeve which may be withdrawn to enable coupling and de-coupling of the other coupler. The sleeve is therefore permitted a degree of axial movement, but without rotational movement, relative to the tubular body of the coupler. Means are provided to limit the extent of axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the body.

Conventionally, two diametrically opposed pins are inserted through and t( tm a tight fit within the wall of the tubular sleeve thus to project radially inwardly where thq'v 4re located in aligned axial slots in the tubular body. The length of the slot thus determines the a Jal movement of the sleeve.

In practice, these pins have been found to work loose and eventually dro p jut of the coupler causing the coupling to become de-coupled in use which can be extroir ey dangerous in view of the high pressure within the hose.

In a further conventional arrangement, in order to avoid the risk of the lo(;4 log pins becoming loosened, they are replaced by localised deformation of a part of the tuq 4ar sleeve wall such that it projects radially inwardly into the axial slot of the tubular body 4( so there are no separate parts which can become loose. However, after a period of rigorous wqp 0 d wear, the deformed parts of the sleeve wall can become cracked and wom and forced out of the axial grooves, again allowing the coupling to fail.

The present invention therefore provides an improved means of determir. ing the extent of axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the body in such a manner that the sleeve cannot be released inadvertently from the body.

According to the present invention, there is provided, a hose coupler comprising a tubular body having at one open end a tail to receive a hose end, and at the opposed open end a spigot for insertion into a complementary hose coupler adapted to receive a further hose end, a tubular sleeve mounted co-axially on the tubular body and having limited axial movement thereon and spring-biassed towards the spigot, and means to determine the limit of said axial movement; characterised in that the limiting means comprises a member freely movable in and located between an axial slot and an aperture aligned therewith, one in the tubular body and the other in the tubular sleeve such that the member is wholly contained between the sleeve and the body.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figs. 1 a and 1 b illustrate respectively in cross-section and plan a first prior art coupler;

Fig.s 2a and 2b similarly illustrate a second prior art coupler

Figs. 3a and 3b similarly illustrate a hose coupler made in accordance with this invention; and Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the coupler illustrated in Figs. 3a and 3b.

Referring now to Figs. la and lb, a conventional coupler being one parl (if a two-part hose coupling comprises a tubular body 10 having at one open end a tail 11 to re.CE i[Ve a hose which is to be retained by a clamp. At the opposite open end of the tubular body I a spigot 12 for insertion into the corresponding part of the two-part coupling.

Mounted co-axially on the tubular body 10 and having limited axial moverr Ont thereon is a tubular sleeve 13, and a spring 14 disposed internally between the body 10 and the sleeve 13 causes the latter to be springbiassed in the direction of the open end of the spigot 12. Two diametrically opposed fixed pins 15 project radially inwardly from the sleeve 13 to be disposed within an associated pair of aligned axial slots 16 in the body. The length of thp lot 16 thus determines the extent of axial movement of the sleeve 13 on the body 10.

In use, by withdrawing the sleeve against the pressure of the spring 14 thi 0 coupling parts may be connected together and then locked by releasing the sleeve, there lie g inter-engaging parts on the sleeve and the other coupling part to provide such loe 9 engagement.

Repeated coupling and de-coupling together with general wear and tear in e rigorous and hostile environment in which such couplings are often used causes the pits 15 gradually to become loosened such that they can drop out of the sleeve causing the coupl 0 ito fail. If this occurs when the hose is in use transporting, for example, water at extremely'!h igh pressure, there is a severe risk of in ury to personnel within the vicinity.

Referring now to Figs. 2a and 2b, in an improved but still conventional construction of a coupler the pins 15 are replaced by localised deformation shown at 20 of the sleeve wall such that it protrudes into an axial tapered slot 21 in the body 10. Thus, once again the axial movement of the sleeve is limited by the amount of permitted movement from the deformations 20 within their associated slots 21.

However, once again after a period of extensive and rigorous use the deformations 20 have been known to crack and/or wear, again causing failure of the coupling.

Referring now to Figs. 3a, 3b and 4, an improved coupler in accordance with the invention is generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. l a and 1b but in this case the pins 15 are replaced by ball bearings 30 which are freely located within axial slots 31 and within associated locating apertures 32 in the wall of the tubular sleeve 33. In this case, the sleeve comprises a first part 34 containing the locating apertures 32 and having an external thread 34a, and a second part 35 forming a co- axial collar having an internal thread 36. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the coupler is assembled by compressing the spring 14 until the locating apertures 32 are disposed over the axial slots 31 whereupon ball bearings 30 may be inserted through the apertures 32 into the slots 31. The diameter of each ball bearing is such that it stands proud of the slot 31 and extends at least part way into the associated aperture 32, the periphery of the ball bearing lying approximately at the same level as the base of the thread 34a. Then, by threadedly engaging the parts 34 and 35 of the sleeve 33, the ball bearings are prevented from releasefr m the slots 31 and apertures 32 but are free to move within the latter whereby the sleeve is affd !r(led its axial movement on the body but such movement is limited by the permitted travel of th p 1 all bearings 30 within the slots 31. i To dismantle the coupler, for example for cleaning or replacement of the bearings or individual parts of the coupler, it is necessary only to separate the collar 35 from the part 34 of the sleeve.

In the unlikely event that the locating apertures 32 should become enl,. )r Od, the collar 35 includes an inwardly directed flange 38 to serve as further means to prevent Cko 1)011 bearings 30 from release from the slots 31.

Claims

- 7 CLAIMS

1. A hose coupler comprising a tubular body having at one open end a tail to receive a hose end, and at the opposed open end a part for engagement with a complementary hose coupler which may be adapted to receive a further hose end, the tubular sleeve mounted co-axially on the tubular body and having limited axial movement thereon and spring-biassed towards the engagement part, and means to determine the limit of said axial movement; characterised in that the limiting means comprises a member freely movable in and located between an axial slot and an aperture aligned therewith, one in the tubular body and the other in the tubular sleeve such that the member is wholly contained between the sleeve and the body.

2. A hose coupler according to Claim 1, wherein the axial slot is provided in the tubular body and the aligned aperture extends through the wall of the tubular sleeve.

3. A hose coupler according to Claim 1 or Claim2, wherein there is a diametrically opposed pair of axial slots and apertures aligned therewith.

4. A hose coupler according to any preceding claim, wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a first part containing a pair of diametrically opposed locating apertures which in the assembly of the coupler are aligned with respective axial slots in the tubular sleeve, the first pgrt having an external thread, and a second part forming a coaxial collar and having an internal thread whereby the first and second parts may J F--- 4 -8 become threadedly engaged to cover the locating apertures thus preventing reli( val therefrom of the freely movable member or members.

5. A hose coupler according to any preceding claim, wherein the or eaO 4id freely movable member is a ball bearing.

6. A hose coupler according to Claim 5, wherein the or each ball bearing', i iof a. diameter such that it stands proud of its associated axial slot and extends at lem( art way into the associated aligned aperture.

7. A hose coupler according to Claim 4, wherein the or each freely mcyale member may be released from its associated axial slot by threadedly disengaging Lnd separating the first andsecond parts of the tubular sleeve.

8. A hose coupler according to Claim 4, wherein the second part of the tup t jar sleeve includes an inwardly directed flange to serve as further means to retain iftc or each freely movable member in its associated axial slot.