NZ299218A - Hose coupling connector device for connecting a flexible hose to a stop cock, has a bell-shaped sleeve surrounding a spigot with a barb - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 299218 PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 24.08.1995; Complete Specification Filed: 22.08.1996 Classification:^) F16L19/00; F16L21/00; F16L33/00; E03D11/00 Publication date: 24 November 1997 Journal No.: 1422 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: A hose coupling Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: CAROMA INDUSTRIES LIMITED, an Australian company of 10 Market Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia 299218 PATENTS FORM 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A HOSE COUPLING We, CAROMA INDUSTRIES LIMITED, an Australian company, of 10 Market Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement. 2992 18 The present invention relates to a hose coupling and, in particular, to a hose coupling suitable for use with cisterns. However, the present invention is not limited to this application.

Connectors for use with flexible hoses normally comprises a rigid spigot over which the hose is pushed and a sleeve coupling which is passed over the hose. Normally the spigot includes at least one and often several annular barbs and the outer sleeve will normally be swaged or crimped with special tools in order to clamp the hose material between the spigot and the outer sleeve.

Whilst these hose couplings are entirely adequate, they suffer from-a number of disadvantages in that they are difficult to change on site. This applies both to removal of an existing crimped or swaged fitting, and the addition or installation of a new one.

In some jurisdictions, and especially in New Zealand, it is known to provide a connection to a cistern from a stop cock by means of a flexible hose. In the event of the hose perishing or if for some reason the hose must be changed or refurbished, it would be advantageous to change the hose manually, and without the use of any special tools or equipment.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved hose coupling which does not rely upon swaging or crimping in order to create the necessary seal.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a hose coupling comprising a bore, a spigot sealingly and slidably mounted in said bore and having an annular barb thereon, and a bell shaped sleeve engageable with said bore and surrounding at least said barb to define an annular hose receiving space therebetween, said spigot being movable by the application of liquid pressure thereto to force said barb towards said sleeve and thereby reduce said hose receiving space.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a connector for use in a fluid circuit, said connector connecting a pliable tube to an externally threaded rigid bore, each one of said and comprising a spigot, and an internally threaded bell shaped sleeve, wherein said spigot is sealingly and slidably engaged over a first portion of its length, with the interior of said externally threaded bore being engageable over a second portion of its said length, said first and second portions with the interior of said pliable tube being separated by an annular lip, said bell shaped sleeve is threadably engageable with said externally threaded bore and surrounds at least said barb to define an annular hose receiving space therebetween, and said spigot being movable by the application of fluid pressure thereto to force said barb towards towards said sleeve to thereby reduce said hose receiving space. 299218 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: - Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the stop cock and hose coupling of the preferred embodiment and, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the assembled coupling of Fig. 1.

As seen in the drawings, a stop cock 1 is connected to a flexible hose 2 by means of a coupling 3. The stop cock 1 is of substantially conventional construction having an outer housing 4 which receives a spindle 5 having a handle 6 and an reshaped through passage 7. An O-ring 8 retained in a groove 9 provides the necessary water seal between the spindle S and housing 4.

The housing 4 also has an externally threaded bore 11 within which is slidingly received a spigot 12 which has two grooves 13 each of which carry a corresponding O-ring 14. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the O-rings 14 provide a seal between the spigot 12 and the bore 11. However, the spigot 12 is free to slide longitudinally within the bore 11.

The spigot 12 also has a portion 16 of reduced diameter which carries an annular barb 17 and over which the hose 2 can be pushed so as to position the hose as indicated in Fig. 2. If necessary this action of pushing the hose 2 over the barb 17 can be facilitated by soaking the hose 2 in hot water in order to soften same.

Prior to locating the hose 2 over the barb 17, a bell shaped sleeve 18, which is internally threaded along a portion of its length is passed over the hose 2. The sleeve 18 can then be slid down the hose towards the bore 11 and threadably engaged with same in order to clamp the hose 2 between the spigot 12 and sleeve 18.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the spigot 12 has an annular lip 20 which limits the travel of the spigot 12 into the bore 11 and thereby enables the sleeve 18 to clamp the hose 2 against the spigot 12, to the maximum extent that is permitted by tightening the sleeve 18. This tightening action reduces the volume available for the hose between the interior of the sleeve 18 and the exterior of the barb 17 of the spigot 12.

The stop cock 1 is illustrated in Fig. 2 in the off position. If the handle 6 is rotated through 180° from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 then the passage 7 is aligned with the bore 11 thereby applying liquid under pressure to that end of the spigot 12 closer to the spindle 5, The effect of this pressure applied to the end of the spigot 12 is to create a force which tends to drive the spigot 12 out of the bore 11 and therefore into closed clamping engagement with the sleeve 18.

As a consequence, at the time when maximum sealing of the hose 2 is required, namely when the stop cock 1 is open, the movement of the spigot 12 induced by the water pressure acts to provide a maximum sealing effect which is brought about by the ability of the spigot 12 to slide relative to the bore 11. 2992 18 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the plumbing arts that the above described arrangement can be undone simply by rotating the sleeve 18 in the reverse direction thereby permitting the hose 2 to be re-seated or replaced as required. No special swaging or crimping tools are required, however, an excellent seal is obtained.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. 299218

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: // /V

1. A hose coupling comprising a bore, a spigot sealingly and slidably mounted in said bore and having an annular barb thereon, and a bell shaped sleeve engageable with said bore and surrounding at least said barb to define an annular hose receiving space therebetween, said spigot being movable by the application of liquid pressure thereto to force said barb towards said sleeve and thereby reduce said hose receiving space.

2. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bell shaped sleeve is engageable with said bore by means of a screwed thread.

3. A hose coupling as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the outer surfaces of said barb exceed the internal diameter of said hose whereby said hose expands as said hose is engaged with said barb.

4. A hose coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spigot is provided with an annular lip projecting thereon, said lip limiting the extent of engagement between said spigot and bore.

5. A hose coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bore is integral with a stop-cock mechanism, and constitutes the outlet thereof.

6. A connector for use in a fluid circuit, said connector connecting a pliable tube to an externally threaded rigid bore, and comprising a spigot having an annular barb, and an internally threaded bell shaped sleeve, wherein: said spigot is sealingly and slidably engaged over a first portion of its length, with the interior of said externally threaded bore, and is engageable over a second portion of its said length, with the interior of said pliable tube, said first and second portions being separated by an annular lip, said bell shaped sleeve is threadably engageable with said externally threaded bore and surrounds at least said barb to define an annular hose receiving space therebetween, and said spigot being movable by the application of fluid pressure thereto to force said barb towards towards said sleeve to thereby reduce said hose receiving space. 299218 - 5 -

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6 and adapted for use with liquids.

8. A hose coupling, substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. GREG WEST-WALKER & CO per ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT end of claims fj ~ 22 AUG 1996 I