GB2392481A

GB2392481A - A tube coupling with annular ring for preventing accidental release

Info

Publication number: GB2392481A
Application number: GB0317027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alladino Borghese; Erme Magris
Original assignee: Uniflex Utiltime SpA
Current assignee: Uniflex Utiltime SpA
Priority date: 2002-08-26
Filing date: 2003-07-21
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-21
Also published as: GB0317027D0; FR2843790B3; ITPN20020046U1; ES1055969U; FR2843790A1; GB2392481B; DE20311698U1; ES1055969Y

Abstract

A snap-action tube coupling with annular stop part 16 for preventing accidental release comprises a hollow connection support 2 which has a rear end 4 capable of receiving a tube and a front end 3 capable of receiving a male connector 7, a release ring 8 movably connected to the connection support 2 and having one end from the internal circumferential edge 11 from which extends at least one projection 18, and an elastically deformable annular stop part 16 which is removably connectable to the connection support 2 and having at least one second projection 19 in the vicinity of the circumferential edge. The annular stop part 16 can preferably rotate about the longitudinal axis of the coupling between a first position and a second position. In the first position the at least one projection 18 does not interact with the at least one second projection 19, thus allowing actuation of the release ring 8, while in the second position the projections 18,19 interact stopping the actuation of the release ring 8. The annular stop part 16 may also comprise first and second shaped tabs 21, 22 parallel to each other and defining a cavity 23 between them, which is capable of receiving a portion of the release ring 8.

Description

ANTI-RELEASE DEVICE FOR FLOW-LINE FITTINGS

The present invention relates to an anti-release device for flow-line fittings, especially for fittings for hoses.

5 When the need arises to increase the length of a hose or connect together coaxially two hoses of different bores, snap-action fittings are now widely used, that is quick engage/release fittings. These fittings generally comprise a release ring that can be moved between two positions to operate the engage/release mechanism of the male/female coupling between two tubes.

10 Preventing accidental actuation of the release ring when the fitting is handled is a technical problem that has been solved in a number of different ways.

Japanese patent application No. JP 10002474 in the name of Kitagawa Ind. Co. Ltd., shows a solution that comprises a release ring with projections that extend from the end surface and engage in corresponding cavities formed on the surface of a stop ring. These release 15 and stop rings engage on the lateral surface of a support having a female end and a male end which are used to make the coaxial connection between two hoses. The drawback with this solution is that the stop ring cannot be either inserted onto or removed from the support without removing the release ring from the support, in other words without interrupting the flow line.

20 - It is an aim of the present invention to make it possible for the annular stop part to be inserted irrespective of whether the release ring and support have or have not been assembled together. As part of this aim, it is an object of the invention to make it possible for the annular stop part to be inserted at any stage in the assembly of the product or even for its insertion to be omitted at the production stage and left to the user if the user 25 wishes to give his fitting the additional functionality of preventing accidental release.

The fact that the insertion of the annular stop part can be optional even in the production stage offers the further advantage that two functionally different fittings can be manufactured using the same moulds and without having to make any kind of modification to these.

30 According to the present invention there is provided an anti-release device for snap-action flow-line fittings for connecting tubes, especially hoses, comprising: a hollow connection support comprising a rear end capable of receiving a tube-shaped part and a front end capable of receiving a male connector;

-2 a release ring movably connected to the said connection support, comprising one end from whose internal circumferential edge there extends at least one projection; the anti-release device consisting of an annular stop part removably connected to the connection support and comprising at least one second projection located 5 in the vicinity of the circumferential edge; wherein the annular stop part has an open shape and is made of an elastically deformable material.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 10 Figure I is an exploded view from above of a fitting comprising the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the snap-action fitting comprising the device according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross section on A-A as marked in Figure 2 with the annular 15 stop part in the release position; Figure 4 is a cross section on A-A as marked in Figure 2 with the annular stop part in the locking position; Figure S is a view of the coupling together of the annular stop part and the connection support; 20 Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of the annular stop part according to the present invention; and Figure 7 is an end view of the release ring.

Referring to Figure 1, the snap-action fitting I comprises a connection support 2 for tubes, especially hoses. It has a front end 3 capable of receiving a male 25 connector 7 and a rear end 4 for connecting a tubeshaped part (not shown). The tube shaped part is attached to the rear end 4 of the support 2 using a gripping ring 5 which is engaged on the support 2 preferably by means of a screw thread 6. A release ring 8 is movably connected to the front end 3 of the support 2. To prevent rotation of the support 2 relative to the release ring 8, a plurality of grooves 10, preferably spaced out at regular 30 intervals from each other, which engage with corresponding protuberances 12 on the surface of the support 2 are formed on the inside surface 9 of the release ring 8, in the vicinity of its internal circumferential edge 11. The release ring 8 can be used to actuate an elastic part 13 housed on the support 2 in the vicinity of the front end 3. Its actuation

-3 occurs preferably by moving the release ring towards the rear end 4 of the support 2 along the direction of the longitudinal axis 14 of the fitting 1. When the elastic part 13 is actuated by the movement of the release ring 8, the bayonettes 15 splay out, releasing the male connector 7.

S In order to prevent accidental release of the male connector 7 from the support 2 when the fitting 1 is being handled, it is possible to insert an annular stop part 16 preferably made,of an elastically deformable plastic material. The annular part 16 can rotate with respect to the support 2 in the direction indicated by the double arrow F in Figure S. and has an open shape such as to allow quick, simple removable engagement on 10 the support 2. As illustrated in Figure I and Figure 6, the annular part 16, comprises, in the vicinity of its circumferential edge, one or more second projections 17 which can interact with corresponding projections 18 projecting preferably from the internal circumferential edge 11 of one end of the release ring 8. An example of one possible location for the projections 18 on the internal circumferential edge 11 is illustrated in Figure 7. The 15 annular part 16 also includes a first shaped tab 21 allowing the user to turn it, and preferably includes at least one second tab 22 positioned parallel to the first tab 21 in such a way as to create a cavity 23 in which is housed a portion of the release ring 8 so that the annular part 16 is not too loose in the radial direction.

As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 5, in order to limit the rotation of the 20 annular part 16 between well-defined first and second positions, it advantageously but non-

necessarily comprises one or more teeth 19 which fit into corresponding circular sectors 20 formed in the surface of the connection support 2. The two extreme positions available to the annular part 16 are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, which show the present invention in a cross-sectional view on A-A as marked in Figure 2. In particular, Figure 3 shows the 25 annular part 16 in the first position in which the second projections 17 do not interact with the projections 18, so leaving the release ring 8 free to move longitudinally through the whole of its travel, and thereby unlocking the male connector 7. This first position therefore corresponds to the disconnection of the coupled hoses. If, on the other hand the user wishes to ensure that the action of handling the fitting I cannot cause it to open 30 accidentally, he can manually rotate the annular part 16, by means of the first shaped tab 21, to the second position illustrated in Figure 4. In this second position the second projections 17 are up against the projections 18, thus reducing the longitudinal travel of the

release ring 8 to such an extent that is impossible to actuate the elastic part 13 and unlock the male connector 7.

From the above account it will be clear that the invention achieves its aims and objects. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to insert an annular stop 5 part on a connection support at any stage of the manufacture of the fitting, or afterwards. It also allows two functionally different fittings to be produced without modifying the moulds in any way. The objects cited are achieved due to the open shape of the annular stop part and to the use of a material having high elasticity.

The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications which 10 nonetheless fall within the scope of the appended claims, and the dimensions and materials employed will be those best suited to the specific requirements.

Claims

-5 CLAIMS

1. Anti-release device for snap-action flow-line fittings for connecting tubes, especially hoses, comprising: 5 a hollow connection support comprising a rear end capable of receiving a tube-shaped part and a front end capable of receiving a male connector; a release ring movably connected to the said connection support, comprising one end from whose internal circumferential edge there extends at least one projection; the anti-release device consisting of an annular stop part removably 10 connected to the connection support and comprising at least one second projection located in the vicinity of the circumferential edge; wherein the annular stop part has an open shape and is made of an elastically deformable material.

15

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the said stop part comprises a first

shaped tab.

3. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the stop part comprises at least one second tab positioned parallel to the said first tab, the said first and second tabs 20 defining a cavity capable of receiving a portion of the release ring.

4. A device according to one any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop part comprises at least one tooth capable of engaging in a corresponding cavity formed in the connection support.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop part is rotatably connected to the connection support.

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6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the stop part can rotate about the 30 longitudinal axis of the fitting between a first position and a second position.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein in the first position the at least one projection does not interact with the at least one second projection.

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8. A device according to Claim 6, wherein in the second position the at least one projection does interact with the at least one second projection.

5

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, which is characterized by the features described and illustrated in the drawings.

10. A device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.