GB2484290A

GB2484290A - Male fastening device engages with pair of female devices

Info

Publication number: GB2484290A
Application number: GB1016689.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Justin Peter Robertshaw; Gillian Annette Jakes; Philip Benford; David Morgan
Original assignee: TUNNELLING ACCESSORIES Ltd; Bosworth Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: TUNNELLING ACCESSORIES Ltd; Bosworth Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-05
Filing date: 2010-10-05
Publication date: 2012-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-05
Also published as: GB2484290B; GB201016689D0; GB201223127D0; GB2495433B; GB2495433A

Abstract

A rod 2 has external grooves 6, 7 formed at each end 4, 5. There are also central grooves which are surrounded by an annular over-mould 3 separating the two ends of the rod. A cup 10 is formed from two housing portions 11, 13 with an aperture and includes a collet 12 having internal grooves. The grooves at one end of the rod are designed to interact with the grooves in the collet to inhibit separation of the rod from the cup 10 once inserted. The other end of the rod can be inserted into a further cup. Ideally rod 2 is formed by extruding nylon while over-mould 3 is formed upon rod 2 by injection moulding a different material. The engagement of the rod and the over-mould might inhibit the rods axial stretching. The grooves of collet 12 have a reduced diameter away from the aperture to provide a deeper engagement with the rods grooves at that point.

Description

Coupling Device The technical field of the present invention relates to a coupling device for joining two members. These members may for example be tunnel segments, well segments, building segments, precast concrete members, preformed panels and other items used in but not limited to the construction industry. More particularly, the present invention relates to male and female members of such a coupling device.

In recent years, attention has been given to coupling devices for joining members. Such a device is known from UK patent GB 2367873 and is useful background art for understanding the present disclosure.

In view of such coupling devices and other coupling devices, there is a need to improve tensile resistance of the coupling device. Axial displacement due to axial pulling forces is desirably minimized. Axial stretch should be kept to a minimum, preferably zero or at least less than a few millimetres, for example five millimetres, over the total length of a coupling device.

A problem is to provide a coupling device with improved coupling force. A problem is to improve the grip between the male member and the female member of coupling devices. This could allow the coupling device to have an improved coupling force. Grooves of the male member and grooves of the female member must not be damaged during assembly of the male member into the female member, because this could reduce the coupling force of the coupling device.

Additionally, it is preferential to avoid cumbersome arrangements from a technical and/or economical point of view. Keeping manufacturing costs to a minimum is highly desirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling device. This object can be achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further enhancements are characterized in the dependent claims.

One embodiment provides a male member of a coupling device. The male member may comprise an elongate bar having a first end, a second end, and a central portion extending along the elongate bar; first grooves towards the first end; second grooves towards the second end; and an over-mould surrounding a circumference of the elongate bar along at least a part of the central portion in the elongation of the elongate bar. The central portion may comprise third grooves and the over-mould may extend into the third grooves.

In one embodiment, the central portion may comprise at least two sets of the third grooves. The elongate bar and the over-mould may be made out of different materials. The elongate bar may comprise nylon; preferably extruded nylon. The elongate bar may be extruded and the over-mould may be injection moulded. Axial stretch of the elongate bar may be counteracted by the over-mould extending into the third grooves.

One embodiment provides a female member of a coupling device. The female member may comprise a first housing having an opening for receiving the elongate bar; a second housing attachable to the first housing; and locking members comprising grooves for engaging with first and second grooves and of an elongate bar, the locking members being flexible and arranged within the first and second housing. The locking members being configured such that the grooves engage deeper with grooves closer to first and second ends of the first and second grooves than with grooves closer to the central portion of the elongate bar. The elongate bar may be the elongate bar disclosed above, or any other suitable elongate bar.

In one embodiment, the configuration of the locking member may be made by arranging grooves that are further away from the opening closer to an axis of symmetry of the female member than grooves that are closer to the opening. Additionally, or alternatively, the configuration of the locking member may be made by causing a higher radial pressure on grooves that are further away from the opening than grooves that are closer to the opening.

In one embodiment, the locking members may be interconnected with each other at one end. The first housing and/or the second housing may comprise indents on the outside.

One embodiment provides a coupling device comprising a combination of such a male member and one or two of such a female member.

A method for producing such a male member may comprise the steps of first extruding the elongate bar from nylon, and secondly injection moulding the over-mould onto the elongate bar.

The tensile resistance may be improved with such a coupling device, because the elongate bar and the over-mould work together to resist axial stretch. Hereby axial displacement due to axial pulling forces is minimized. Tensile resistance may be improved, because the elongate bar and over-mould are interconnected by grooves.

The coupling device may have a stronger hold/coupling force, because of increased tensile resistance of the device. No breakage or damage occurs to the grooves during assembly, because of the flexible locking members. The coupling force may also improve because the interaction, the engagement, between the grooves of the male and female members is improved. This may allow the use of a gasket for high pressure between two elements that should be coupled. Further, a better grip between the female member and an element may be achieved, because of external indents on the female member. The coupling device is very well suited for aligning and coupling elements, because of a conical shape of the over-mould.

The coupling device may be inexpensive, because the elongate bar and the over-mould may be made out of different materials. For example, the elongate bar may be made of extruded nylon, while the over-mould may be of a less expensive material.

Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims.

Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment may be technically combined with any preceding claimed embodiment(s).

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coupling device.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a male and female member.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a male and female member.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a male and female member.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a male member.

It is to be understood that wherever reference is made in this disclosure to a member, the present coupler devices are also intended to be used with any fixing requirement.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a coupling device. Such a coupling device may comprise a male member 1 connectable with one or two female members 10.

The male member 1 comprises an elongate bar 2 and an over-mould 3.

The elongate bar 2 may be double ended, comprising a first end 4 and a second end 5 and a central portion 9 between the first end 4 and the second end 5. The elongate bar 2 may have an o-profile, or any other profile, such as for example a square profile or any other polygonal profile.

A cylindrical profile is a preferred embodiment. The elongate bar 2 comprises first grooves 6 around its circumference at the first end 4 and second grooves 7 around its circumference at the second end 5. The first and second grooves 6 and 7 may be a series of grooves. The first grooves 6 may extend over an area of the circumference of the elongate bar 2 from the first end 4 to where the over-mould 3 is located on the elongate bar 2. The area may be larger or smaller, and the illustrated area of grooves 6 in FIG. I is only one example. Similar, the second grooves 7 may extend over an area of the circumference of the elongate bar 2 from the second end 5 to where the over-mould 3 is located on the elongate bar 2. The area may be larger or smaller, and the illustrated area of grooves 7 in FIG. 1 is only one example. The central portion 9 may extend along the elongate bar 2 from the first grooves 6 to the second grooves 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the elongate bar 2 may comprise third grooves 8 along the central portion 9 of the elongate bar 2. The third grooves 8 may extend over an area of the circumference of the elongate bar 2 from the first grooves 6 to the second grooves 7 on the elongate bar 2. The area may be larger or smaller, and the illustrated area of the third grooves 8 in FIG. 5 is only one example. The third grooves 8 may extend over the entire central portion 9 or only along one or more parts thereof.

The over-mould 3 surrounds the circumference of the elongate bar 2 at the central portion 9 thereof. The over-mould 3 may extend around the elongate bar 2 from the first grooves 6 at the first end 4 to the second grooves 7 at the second end 5 of the elongate bar 2. The schematic illustration of the over-mould 3 in FIG. 1 is only an example, and the over-mould 3 may extend over an area that is less or more than the central portion 9.

As may be taken from the FIG. I to 5, the over-mould 3 may be double conical. The schematic illustrations of the double conical over-mould 3 in FIG. I to 5 are only examples, and the over-mould 3 may be of any other suitable form or shape depending on application. For example, the over-mould may have one or more straight portions. The central double conical part may act as a core assists in an alignment between units or members that the coupling device couples. Recesses may be provided to limit flexibility without reducing the shear and tensile capacity of the coupling device.

In one embodiment, the over-mould 3 may surround the circumference of the elongate bar 2 along at least a part of the central portion 9 in the elongation of the elongate bar 2. The over-mould 3 may extend into the third grooves 8. In this way the over-mould 3 may assist the elongate bar 2 to take up axial stretch/play of the coupling device. Pulling forces acting on the elongate bar 2 is hereby transformed into acting on both the elongate bar 2 and the over-mould 3. Hereby the holding force of the coupling device is improved.

The third grooves 8 may have a profile that is not symmetric. In one embodiment, one side of the groove may be perpendicular to the axis 30 of the elongate bar 2. Preferably, this side of the grove is facing outwards from the middle of the elongate bar 2 towards the ends of the elongate bar 2. This side could alternatively be angled more or less. Hereby a technical effect of counteracting axial stretch of the elongate bar 2 may be achieved when the over-mould 3 extends into the grooves of the elongate bar2.

In one embodiment, the elongate bar 2 may be made out of nylon. The elongate bar 2 may be extruded nylon. The over-mould 3 may be made by injection moulding onto the elongate bar 2. The over-mould may be made of any suitable material. In one embodiment the elongate bar 2 and the over-mould are not made out of the same material. For example, the elongate bar 2 may be made of a first material, such as nylon, while the over-mould 3 may be made of a second material less expensive than the first material. This will have the technical effect of a more cost effective coupling device with increased holding force.

FIG. 2 to 4 illustrate schematically members 20. These members 20 may be any kind of item that may be assembled. The members 20 may for example be building blocks, concrete elements, tunnel segments, precast concrete members, preformed panels, and other items used in but not limited to the construction industry. These members 20 may comprise a seal 21 that seal two members 20 that are coupled together. Such a seal 21 may be a gasket or even a gasket for high pressure. Disclosed embodiments may make the use of high pressure gaskets possible, because the improved holding force of the coupling device. No or minimal displacement between the two members 20 coupled is achieved because of no or minimal axial stretch of the coupling device.

An exemplary embodiment of a female member 10 is illustrated by FIGs. 1 to 4. The female member 10 may comprise a first housing 11 comprising an opening 15 for receiving the elongate bar 2. The female member 10 may comprise a second housing 13 attachable to the first housing 11. By attaching the first and second housing 11 and 13 the housing of the female member may be formed. The first and/or second housing 11 and 13 may have grooves and/or indents interacting with members 20, improving retention of the first and second housing 11 and 13 within the members 20.

The female member may comprise locking members 12 comprising grooves 14 for interacting with first and second grooves 6 and 7 of an elongate bar 2. The locking members 12 may be flexible and arranged within the first and second housing 11 and 12. This flexibility allows an assembly of a male and female members without damaging the engaging grooves. As may best be taken from FIG. 1, the locking members 12 are connected to each other at one end. This end may be the end most distant from the opening 15. In FIG. 1 six locking members 12 have been schematically illustrated. This is only one example and the locking members could be more or less, for example, any suitable number from two to twenty-four. The locking members 12 may be flexible so that when the male member and the female member are assembled interacting grooves are not damaged. Hereby the coupling force of the coupling device is improved.

In one embodiment, the locking members 12 may be configured such that the grooves 14 interact deeper with grooves closer to the first and second ends 4 and 5 of the first and second grooves 6 and 7 than with grooves closer to the central part 9 of the elongate bar 2. Hereby the overall interaction of first and second grooves 6 and 7 with the grooves 14 of the locking members 12 improves and thereby the coupling force of the coupling device is improved. The interaction is the engagement between on one hand the grooves 14 with on the other hand the first and second grooves 6 and 7, respectively. The grooves may be recesses, individual concentric rings, or threads, or discrete recesses. The grooves on the male and female members correspond to each other so that they can engage and couple the male and female members. Each groove may have a profile that is not symmetric. In one embodiment, one side of the first and second grooves 6 and 7 may be perpendicular to the axis 30 of the elongate bar 2. Preferably, this side of the grove is facing outwards from the middle of the elongate bar 2 towards the ends of the elongate bar 2. This side could alternatively be angled more or less. The grooves 14 of the female member may have a corresponding profile to engage the first and second grooves 6 and 7, respectively. Hereby a technical effect of increasing the coupling between the male and female members may be achieved.

The engagement between grooves 14 and the first and second grooves 6 and 7 of the elongate bar 2 may be made such that the grooves 14 engage deeper, engage with a smaller tolerance, with grooves closer to the first and second ends 4 and 5 of the first and second grooves 6 and 7 than with grooves closer to the central portion 9 of the elongate bar 2.

Such configuration of the locking member 12 may be made by arranging grooves 14 that are further away from the opening 15 closer to an axis 30 of symmetry of the female member than grooves 14 that are closer to the opening 15. The axis 30 of symmetry of the female member is coaxial with an axis 30 of the elongate member 2 when the male member engages with a female member. The axis 30 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Alternatively, or additionally, such configuration of the locking member 12 may be made by causing a higher radial pressure P2 on grooves 14 that are further away from the opening 15 than radial pressure P1 on grooves 14 that are closer to the opening 15. In other word, pressure P2 may be larger than pressure P1 in FIG. 2. The pressures P1 and P2 are the pressures with which the grooves 14 are pressed onto the first or second grooves 6 and 7.

This improved engagement between on one hand the grooves 14 and on the other hand the first and second grooves 6 and 7 may have the technical effect of improving the holding/coupling force of the coupling device. This because all, rather than only a few, of the grooves 14 that engage with grooves of the first or second grooves 6 and 7 do so firmly.

According to at least one embodiment, the male member may be produced by firstly extruding the elongate bar 2 from nylon and secondly injection-moulding the over-mould 3 onto the elongate bar 2. This will have the technical and economical effect of providing an inexpensive yet strong male member, because such a male member is less expensive than a male member made completely out of nylon.

The coupling device may comprise a combination of one male member 1 and one or two female members 10. Normally one male member I couples with two female members 10, one at each end. The female members 10 may be pre-installed in the elements 20. When two elements are going to be coupled and aligned, a male member 1 may be assembled with each female member 10 in the elements 20.

In use as members 20 are urged together, the male part 1 engages in the opening 15 of the female members 10. The first or second grooves 6 or 7 abuts the grooves 14 of the locking members 12, forcing them radially outwards. The movement of the locking members 12 is resisted elastically which forces the mating grooves 14 to engage the first or second grooves 6 or 7. No breakage or damage occurs during assembly because of this flexibility. The locking members 12 engage surrounding housing 11 and 12, locking the male member I of the coupling device into the recesses formed in the sides of the members 20 preventing the male member I from being pulled out. Once inserted, the male members 1 can only be removed from a female member 10 with great technical difficulty, if at all.

The system and method discussed above provides a coupling device suitable for joining members with a high coupling force. The invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While the invention has been described and is defined by reference to particular preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, such references do not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred.

The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled in the pertinent arts. The described preferred embodiments of the invention are exemplary only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention.

Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A male member of a coupling device, the male member comprising: an elongate bar 2 having a first end 4, a second end 5, and a central portion 9 extending along the elongate bar 2; first grooves 6 towards the first end 4; second grooves 7 towards the second end 5; and an over-mould 3 surrounding a circumference of the elongate bar 2 along at least a part of the central portion 9 in the elongation of the elongate bar 2; wherein the central portion 9 comprises third grooves 8; and the over-mould 3 extends into the third grooves 8.
2. The male member according to claim 1, wherein the central portion 9 comprising at least two sets of the third grooves 8.
3. The male member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate bar 2 and the over-mould 3 are made out of different materials.
4. The male member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate bar 2 comprises nylon; preferably extruded nylon.
5. The male member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate bar 2 is extruded and the over-mould 3 is injection moulded.
6. The male member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the over-mould 3 extends into the third grooves 8 thereby counteracting axial stretch of the elongate bar 2.
7. A female member of a coupling device, the female member comprising: a first housing 11 having an opening 15 for receiving an elongate bar 2; a second housing 13 attachable to the first housing 11; and S locking members 12 comprising grooves 14 for engaging with first and second grooves 6 and 7 of the elongate bar 2, the locking members 12 being flexible and arranged within the first and second housing 11 and 12; wherein the locking members 12 being configured such that the grooves 14 engage deeper with grooves closer to first and second ends 4 and 5 of the first and second grooves 6 and 7 than with grooves closer to the central portion 9 of the elongate bar 2.
8. The female member of claim 7, wherein the configuration of the locking member 12 is made by arranging grooves 14 that are further away from the opening 15 closer to an axis 30 of symmetry of the female member than grooves 14 that are closer to the opening 15.
9. The female member of claim 7 or 8, wherein the configuration of the locking member 12 is made by causing a higher radial pressure on grooves 14 that are further away from the opening 15 than grooves 14 that are closer to the opening 15.
10. The female member according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein the locking members 12 are interconnected with each other at one end.
11. The female member according to any one of the claims 7 to 10, wherein the first housing 11 and/or the second housing 13 comprises indents on the outside.
12. A coupling device comprising a combination of one male member according to any one of claims I to 6 and one or two female members according to any one of claims 7 to 11.
13. A method for producing the male member according to any of the claims 1-6, comprising the steps of: -extruding the elongate bar 2 from nylon; and -injection-moulding the over-mould 3 onto the elongate bar 2.
14. A coupling device substantially as herein described and/or illustrated in the accompanying text and/or drawings.
15. A male member substantially as herein described and/or illustrated in the accompanying text and/or drawings.
16. Afemale member substantially as herein described and/or illustrated in the accompanying text and/or drawings.amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A male member for a coupling device comprising a female member, the male member comprising: an elongate bar 2 having a first end 4, a second end 5, and a central portion 9 extending along the elongate bar 2, first grooves 6 towards the first end 4, and second grooves 7 towards the second end 5; and an over-mould 3 surrounding a circumference of the elongate bar 2 along at least a part of the central portion 9 in the elongation of the elongate bar 2; wherein the central portion 9 comprises third grooves 8; and the over-mould 3 extends into the third grooves 8. r2. The male member according to claim 1, wherein the central portion 9 comprising at least two sets of the third grooves 8. (0 r3. The male member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate bar 2 and the over-mould 3 are made out of different materials.4. The male member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate bar 2 comprises nylon; preferably extruded nylon.5. The male member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate bar 2 is an extruded elongate bar and the over-mould 3 is an injection moulded over-mould.6. The male member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the over-mould 3 extension into the third grooves 8 is configured to counteract axial stretch of the elongate bar 2.7. A female member for a coupling device comprising a male member, the female member comprising: a first housing 11 having an opening 15 for receiving an elongate bar 2 of S the male member; a second housing 13 attachable to the first housing 11; and locking members 12 comprising grooves 14 for engaging with first or second grooves 6 and 7 of the elongate bar 2, the locking members 12 being flexible and arranged within the first and second housing 11 and 12; wherein the locking members 12 being configured such that the grooves 14 engage deeper with grooves closer to first and second ends 4 and S of the first and second grooves 6 and 7 than with grooves closer to the central portion 9 of the elongate bar 2. r8. The female member of claim 7, wherein the configuration of the locking member 12 is made by arranging grooves 14 that are further away from (0 the opening 15 closer to an axis 30 of symmetry of the female member than grooves 14 that are closer to the opening 15.9. The female member of claim 7 or 8, wherein the configuration of the locking member 12 is made by causing a higher radial pressure on grooves 14 that are further away from the opening 15 than grooves 14 that are closer to the opening 15.10. The female member according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein the locking members 12 are interconnected with each other at one end.11. The female member according to any one of the claims 7 to 10, wherein the first housing 11 and/or the second housing 13 comprises indents on the outside.12. A coupling device comprising a combination of one male member according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and one or two female members according to any one of claims 7 to 11.13. A method for producing the male member according to any of the claims 1-6, comprising the steps of: -extruding the elongate bar 2 from nylon; and -injection-moulding the over-mould 3 onto the elongate bar 2.14. A coupling device substantially as herein described and/or illustrated in the accompanying text and/or drawings.15. A male member substantially as herein described and/or illustrated r in the accompanying text and/or drawings.16. A female member substantially as herein described and/or illustrated in the accompanying text and/or drawings.