GB895056A - Improvements in couplings for pipes and conduits - Google Patents

Abstract

895,056. Pipe couplings. BEESTON, J. P. Sept. 15, 1960 [Sept. 17, 1959], No. 31731/59. Class 99(1). In a quick-release coupling of the kind comprising a spigot 7 on one coupling element B adapted to enter a socket in another coupling element A, the elements being held together by a turnable locking sleeve 13 on the socket and adapted to engage the spigot to lock the elements against axial separating movement, and wherein the locking sleeve turns about an axis 11 eccentric to that of the socket, the spigot has a portion of reduced diameter and defines an annular shoulder 9 and the sleeve has an inwardly directed part 14 which can, upon turning of the sleeve about the eccentric axis, be brought into the reduced portion 8 behind the shoulder, the turning movement of the locking sleeve about the eccentric axis is limited by, and any substantial axial movement of the sleeve is prevented by, a part on the locking sleeve which extends into a peripheral groove 20 formed in the socket. As shown, the leading end 7a of the spigot 7 is received in the bore 3 of the socket element and coacts with a valve plunger 26 loaded by a spring 29 so that in the uncoupled condition of the coupling elements the sleeve 30 carried by the plunger co-operates with a frusto-conical seating 3b; a sealing ring 27 forms a fluid seal between the plunger and bore 3, and radial parts 28 allow a flow of fluid from the socket element to the hollow spigot element. The sleeve 13 is rotatable on the socket against the pressure exerted by a torsion spring 16 and has an inwardly directed annular lip 14 of varying radial extent and defining a circular aperture of a size to receive the spigot 7a and the turning movement of the sleeve is limited to substantially 180 degrees by a pin, extending parallel to a diameter of and passing through the the wall of the sleeve, abutting the bottom 20a of a groove 20 formed in the wall of the socket. A sealing ring 24 is retained in position by a gland 25. In coupling the elements A, B the sleeve 13 is turned against the action of the spring 16 and retained in the unlocked position thereof by engagement of the projecting flange 22 on the socket within the recess 23 of the sleeve, the gland 25 being retracted to allow interengagement between the flange 14 and recess 8 of the spigot. The spigot is then inserted into the socket to open the valve 30 to permit fluid to infiltrate between the abutting portions of the plunger 26 and spigot and act on the ring 24 to move the gland 25 which urges the flange 14 of the sleeve out of engagement with the flange 22 so that the sleeve is thereby free to rotate to the locking position. In uncoupling the elements A, B the sleeve is turned manually to the unlocked position thereof.