US2756075A

US2756075A - Quick-attaching coupler-valve

Info

Publication number: US2756075A
Application number: US417879A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr George A Rayner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-03-22
Filing date: 1954-03-22
Publication date: 1956-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-24

Description

y 24, 1956 G. A. RAYNER, JR 2,756,075

QUICK-ATTACHING COUPLER-VALVE Filed March 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

E I2 FIG. 2 l 29 44 m 33 7/ 70 I3 8 6 39 H X k- 66 5 9 5' 1 I l 1 INVENTOR.

GEORGE A. RAYNER, JR.

y 1956 G. A. RAYNER, JR 2,756,075

QUICK-ATTACHING COUPLER-VALVE Filed March 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6| INVENTOR.

GEORGE A. RAYNER, JR.

8%, w; 7M m m July 24, 1956 G. A RAYNER, JR 2,755,075

QUICK-ATTACHING COUPLER-VALVE Filed March 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 8

INVENTOR. GEORGE A. RAYNER, JR.

QUICK-ATTACHIN' G COUPLER-VALVE George A. Rayner, .In, Bangor, Maine Application March 22, 1954, Serial No. 417,879

7 Claims. (Cl. 284.-.-.17)

My present invention relates. to a double-acting valvular device combining in one compact unit a coupling and a valve, useful in the transfer of fluids from one container or supply to another. While susceptible of employment in various fields the couplerfvalve of the invention is particularly suited to such applications as filling portable tanks and containers with pressurized petroleum gas products (bottled gas) in the liquid or gaseous phase, enabling the quick coupling of the supply line to successive tanks to be filled.

In the drawings, illustrating by way of example certain embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation a complete coupler-valve unit in use position as installed at the inlet-outlet valve of a tank such as commonly used in the liquified petroleum gas industry;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section of a coupler-valve such as that of Fig. 1, shown separately;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts broken away or in horizontal section, the coupler-valve unit being positioned similarly as Fig. l but in an initial stage of the quick-attaching installation;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 showing the parts in subsequent attached position but with the valve still closed;

Fig. 5 is a further view corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4 but with the valve of the attached unit open for fluid flow;

Fig. 6 is an outer end or rear elevational view;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation; and the following figures illustrate a modified coupling portion for. use with externally rather than internally threaded receiving connections, and wherein:

Fig. 8 corresponds to Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 corresponds to Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 corresponds to Fig. 4; and

Fig. 11 corresponds to Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in more particular, I have represented in Fig. 1 a portion of a liquified petroleum or similar gas tank T having an inlet-outlet valve V of known or preferred form and having in this instance an internally threaded inlet-outlet connection C. The quickattach coupler-valve unit of my invention, designated as a whole at 1, is shown installed at such tank. It has an inlet port 2 to which is affixed the suitable length of flexible hose or other conduit 12 leading from the filling supply.

The coupler-valve unit 1 of the present invention, whether of the form of Figs. 2 to 5 for connection to internally threaded elements or that of Figs. 8 to 11 for externally threaded connections, comprises first a tubular coupler head 5 having a convex nose 6 adapted for abuttive seating engagement with the usual tapered or concave apertured transverse wall C within the standard internally threaded connection. A circumferential flange 7 bebind the nose adapts the same head for abuttive engagement with the rim of externally threaded elements as in Figs. 8 to 11. The coupler head 5 further comprises a tubular body 8 having at its inner end a plurality of radial ports 9 and having at an intermediate position an annited States Patent 0 p armors Patented July 24, 19 56 ice nular flange 10 for clamping engagement with a flexible diaphragm 11 y m ans of a ecu in r ng 2 thread onto a reduced front portion of the flange. Removably secured to the inner end of the coupler head is a valve disc 13 carrying a suitable valve facing 14. These valve Parts a e o n d n he th aded st m f a p u 15 centrally held by the coupler-head 5', the

valve members

13, 14 being removably held on the plug and stem thereof as by a washer 16 and retainer nut 17. The coupler head 5 and the

valve

13, 14 thereon will at times be referred to as the head-and-valve element.

The coupler head 5 is coaxially mounted in a valve case or housing 20 having longitudinal slidable relation to the coupler head and herein shown as a hollow cylindrical element containing a valve chamber 21 and forwardly thereof a diaphragm chamber 22. These chambers are separated by a transverse wall 23 integral with the case 20 and centrally apertured for passage of the coupler-head and for slide bearing engagement with the latter as at 24. Further bearing support for the case 20 on the head 5 is provided by a cupped front plate or cap 25 centrally apertured for slide bearing on the head as at 26 The front cap 25 provides front closure for the diaphragm chamber 22 and also clamps the outer margin of the diaphragm 11 between it and the valve case proper 20, being secured to the latter as by a series of cap screws 27, Figs. 1 and 7.

The chambered casing 20 is closed at the rear by a conforment back plate 30. The rear face of the case 20 is annularly recessed to seat a gasket ring 28 to be clamped between the back plate 30 and the case 20 to form a fluid seal at the rear of the valve chamber 21. The back plate 30 is integrally formed at two diametrally opposed peripheral portions with circumferentially spaced rearward extensions or

lug pairs

31, 31 and 32, 32, Figs. 1, 2 and particularly Fig. 6. These opposite pairs of spaced lugs carry a flat rear cover 33. V

In the position of the coupler-valve unit 1 as a Whole as shown in the drawings merely by way of illustration, the lug pairs 31, 31 and 32, 32 are at the top and bottom respectively. Hence merely for convenient identification the corresponding portions of the coupler-valve unit as a whole will be referred to as top and bottom, and the intermediate portions as the sides." It will be understood, however, that the unit may be applied to the given threaded receiving connection such as C in any convenient angular position about its longitudinal axis.

The rear cover 33 mentioned is conformed at the top and bottom to the herein cylindrical shape of the valve case 20 and of the back plate 30 including the paired

lug extensions

31, 32. It is of reduced width with side edges 33a, 33a set in from the periphery of the

valve case assembly

20, 25, 30, noting Fig. 6, to give access to and travel space for the coupler actuating

rods

51, 51 to be described.

Said rear cover 33 with the back plate 30 and the

lug extensions

31, 31 and 32, 32 thereof define a laterally open housing presenting a compartment 34 for the cam means and manual operating cam shaft 50 to be referred to. Also it has a central transverse slot 33b, extending horizontally in the illustrated position of the unit, giving operating clearance for the coupler-operating yoke 50 as will become apparent. As best seen in Fig. 6, the rear cover 33 is demountably held in place as by

cap screws

35', 35 and 36, 36 in longitudinal line with and extending through the respective top and

bottom lug pairs

31, 3i and 32, 32 and into the rear peripheral portion of the valve case 20. Additional securing cap screws 37, 3'] and 38, 38 may be provided for the sides of the back plate 30. If desired longitudinal through-bolts may be used at the locations of and in place of the rearscrews 25-38 and the front screws 27.

It will be apparent that the whole valve-

housing assembly

20, 25, 30 and including the cam-compartment cover 33 is rigidly connected as a structural unit which in the entirety is adapted for bodilysliding movement on and relative to the coupler-head in the direction of their common longitudinal axis. These two main elements are herein concentrically disposed.

Noting particularly Fig. 2, also Figs. 3 to 5, a coil spring 39 is provided in the valve chamber 21, longitudinally centrally thereof and hearing at one end against the rear wall of the chamber 21 formed by the back plate 3% and at the other end against the rear face of the valve disc 13, or the washer 16 thereat, Where it may be centered as by the retainernut 17. It is evident that said valve disc 13 and its facing 14 are fixed at the inner end of and in effect form a part of the couplerhead 5. Hence, assuming the coupler'head 5 to be stationary, as for example when the unit is installed upon a threaded connection as in Fig. l, the main coil spring 39 acts to thrust the entire described valve case 20 and connected parts rearwardly and to maintain the central annular valve seat 29 in closed position against the

valve

13, 14 as illustrated in Fig. 2,.also Figs. 4 and 5. Said valve seat 29 concentrically surrounds the coupler-head 5, being formed upon the rear face of the previously mentioned transverse wall 23 of the case 20.

The coupler-valve device 1 of the invention further comprises movable means for coupling engagement with the threaded connection of the tank or other receiver, together with operating means under a single manual control for positively shifting the movable coupler means into and holding it in installed position and also for opening the valve;

Noting particularly Figs. 3, 4 and 5 as well as Fig. 2, there is secured to the projecting forward portion of the coupler-head 5 a mounting block or carrier 4-0 for the quick-acting coupler members or connectors 41, 41. These comprise an opposed pair of segments or fingers which in this embodiment have external threading at the outer convex faces as at 42,42. The thread is of appropriate form and pitch for meshing engagement with the internal threading of a standard or average threaded connection C such as shown in the several views. These couplers 41, 41 are of general L-shape, each having a

lateral leg

43, 43. The carrier block 40 is laterally recessed at opposite sides of the coupler-head 5 to receive the annular intermediate portion of the couplers 41 and to mount the latter for rocking each similarly but oppositely about a transverse pivot, vertical in the views shown, as provided by

pins

44, 44 shown extending through the top and bottom portions of the carrier block 40 above and below the lateral recesses thereof. Relatively light coil springs 45, 45 supported between the outer portions of the legs 43 of the couplers and the front cap 25 of the valve housing normally urge the coupler pair inwardly toward each other into the disengaged position of Figs. 2 and 3, wherein they lie gen erally parallelly along the adjacent portion of the head 5 behind the nose 6 of the latter.

The respective

lateral legs

43, 43 of the couplers are operatively connected with an actuator or actuating means at the rear of the valve case 20. Such means comprises the transverse yoke 50 previously mentioned, extending herein horizontally across the unit in the chamber 34 between the back plate 30 and the slotted cover 33. The outer ends of the yoke 50 are connected respectively to the coupler legs 43 herein by means of parallel

rigid rods

51, 51 extending slidably through a portion of the peripheralwall of the valve case 20 and the front and rear closure members 25, 3t) thereof. At the projecting front ends the connection rods 51 extend through the respective legs 43 and have pivotal connection with them as by means of ball heads 52 on the rods seating in concavities at the front faces of the respective legs 43. At the rear the connection rods 51 are threaded through the corresponding lateral extremities of the yoke 50 where upon suitable adjustment with respect to the threaded couplers 41 the rods may be secured as by lock nuts 53. Thus the yoke 50 and the rods 51 constitute a rigid frame in the nature of a cross head movable longitudinally on and relative to the

housing elements

20, 25, 3t) of the unit. Rearward movement of this frame acts to swing the couplers 41 outwardly away from each other, about their pivots 44, and into connective engaging position of Figs. 4 and 5.

The described coupling engagement of the couplers 41 is accomplished by cam means under the manual control of the operator. Said means herein comprises a trans verse diametrally disposed cam shaft 60 rotatably mounted in and extending through the open compartment 34- between the back plate 30 and rear cover 33, at right angles to the yoke 50, that is, vertically in the illustrated position of the device. Said cam shaft 60 is both rotatively and bodily slidably positioned by and between the individual

rearwardly extending lugs

31, 31 and 32, 32 of the top and bottom pairs thereof. It is located and supported in the direction of its axis, that is, transversely of the unit body, herein by means of a collar 61 secured to the projecting bottom end of the shaft 60 below the lower lugs 32, 32, as by a pin 62. The cam shaft 6% is of a length to project at opposite sides of the unit body and at the projecting upper end receives the hub 63, pinned to it as at 64, of ahand lever 65.

As best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the yoke 50 has a central concavity 54 forwardly open toward the cam shaft 60, for coaction with a relatively small disc cam 66 on the shaft and having an abrupt riser portion of something over in extent. In the released or inactive position of the threaded couplers 41, Figs. 2 and 3, this connection-actuating cam 66 has a forward position away from and at the opposite side of the cam shaft from the concavity 54 of the yoke 50. Starting from such position turning of the cam shaft 60 by the handle 65, in either direction, brings the cam 66 into rearward thrusting engagement with the concave cam face 54 of the yoke 50. This shifts the yoke 50 rearwardly and away from the back plate 30 of the valve case 20. Through the rigid connecting rods 51 the outer ends of the coupler legs 43 are accordingly swung back, throwing the threaded coupler segments 42 laterally outward into positive holding engagement with the internal threading of the receiving inlet element such as C at which the unit is to be applied. Comparing Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that but a quarter turn or less of the cam shaft 60 effects said coupling engagement for the fore end of the coupler-head 5. Also, by further comparing Figs. 4 and 5 it is seen that a further quarter turn of the cam shaft in the same direction maintains the described coupled engagement, by reason of the substantially 180 or greater extent of the connector-actuating cam 66. In said engaged position the rear medial portion of the yoke 50 may enter the transverse slot 33b of the rear cover 33.

In the attached or use position of the coupler-valve unit 1 as in Figs. 1 and 4, the nose 6 of the head 5 is in abuttive engagement with a transverse wall P rtion C of the threaded connection C, and the device as a whole is locked in that position by means of the described threaded couplers 41. Hence the coupler-head 5 is in stalled in a fixed relation to the inlet connection C, in effect as though a rigid extension of the latter. In this fixedly installed position of the device it is clear that forward thrusting force applied at the rear of the

valve housing assembly

20, 25, 30 will cause the latter to move in the longitudinal axial direction, toward the connection C, opening the valve by movement of the annular seat element 29 forwardly away from the valve proper 1314, toward the right in Fig. 5, simultaneously compressing the valve-seating spring 39. Fluid from the supply entering the valve chamber at the inlet 2 is then free to pass to and through the open valve seat 29 and through the radial ports 9 of the coupler head 5 and out through the axial bore of the latter into the tank T via the then open valve V.

area-07a The described valve opening action is efiected by the same operating handle 65 and cam shaft 60, by turning of the latter, in the same direction, through a further approximate quarter turn.

For this purpose the cam shaft 60 carries additional cam means shown as a pair of relatively

large disc cams

70, 71 symmetrically disposed at opposite sides of the smaller coupling-operating cam 66 and with the riser portions substantially diametrically opposite to the latter. As seen in Fig. 5 these valve earns 70, 71 upon appropriate further turning of the cam shaft 60 beyond the coupled Fig. 4 position, in the assumed clockwise direction with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, are brought into thrusting engagement with the main transverse wall of the back plate 30. This causes the

housing unit

20, 25, 30 as a Whole to be slid forwardly, to the right in Fig. 5, upon and in guided relation to the now stationary coupler-head 5. It is further noted with respect to Fig. 5 that the angular extent of the smaller coupler cam 66 is such that it maintains the rear-thrust position of the yoke 50 with reference to the axis of the cam shaft; hence the rods 51 and the coupler legs 43 retain their rearward position relative to the stationary head 5 and the threaded couplers 41 remain spread into the attaching position, Figs. 4 and 5.

From the active coupled and open position of Fig. 5, which is automatically maintained by the described cam means, the device may at any instant and at the will of the operator be closed off and uncoupled from the tank T and its valve V, either by reverse rotation of the operating handle 65, or in the illustrated example by further turning the crank shaft in the same direction to carry the handle through a complete 360 turn and back to initial position.

In Figs. 8 to 11 I have illustrated a modified form of coupling for use with tanks and the like having externally threaded nipples or receiving connections as frequently encountered in the field of liquified petroleum gas equipment and other applications. Parts not otherwise here mentioned may be the same as in Figs. 1 to 6. Hence only the forward portion of the coupler-valve unit need be shown in Figs. 8 to 11, including the projecting forward portion of the coupler-head 5 and the adjacent front cam 25 of the housing assembly.

In this instance the coupling carrier block 140 on the head 5 is enlarged lengthwise to accommodate an additional pair of pivot pins 200, at opposite sides of the head 5. These provide separate pivotal mount for the internally threaded

coupler segments

141, 141 having rearward arms 147 respectively pivotally connected at 148 to the longitudinal forward-extending feet 149 of hell crank levers having lateral legs 143 corresponding to the operating legs 43 of the previous form. These lateral legs 143 are pivotally connected to the operating

rods

51, 51 already described.

It will be obvious from a comparison of Figs. 8, 9, l and 11 respectively with the corresponding Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 that by similar manipulation of the operating handle 65 the internally threaded segments 141, starting from the open position of Figs. 8 and 9, are closed inwardly toward each other and into positive coupling engagement with the externally threaded connection CX. The feet 149 fixed on the lateral legs 143 are swung outwardly about the fixed pivot points 144, thereby tilting the rear arms 147 of the coupler segments outwardly and forcing the internally threaded segmental couplers 141 inwardly about the fixed pivots 200 and into the coupled position of Figs. 10 and 11. In the latter figure the valve body or housing has been shifted forward to the valve-open position, similarly as in Fig. 5. It is noted that in this instance the coupler-head 5 is initially placed in abuttive relation to the externally threaded connection CX by engagement of the circumferential flange 7 of the head 5 against the rim of said connection.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodi- 6 ments thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth-its scope in my following claims:

1. A coupler-valve unit for quickly attaching fluid supply lines to threaded receiving connection-s, said unit comprising :a tubular head having a connector-engaging outer delivery end, a valve case defining a main housing and manipulating body for the unit, said case slidably mounted on the head and defining a valve chamber surrounding the inner end of the head, said chamber closed at the rear and having a lateral supply inlet and a central outlet to the head, coactive valve means on and between the head inner end and the chamber outlet for opening by sliding movement of the valve case on and relative to the head, threaded segmental coupler members pivotally supported at the fore end 'of the head for lateral coupling engagement with a like-threaded receiving connect-ion, a yoke at the rear of and separate from the valve case, rigid members connecting the yoke with the coupler members and longitudinally slidably guided on and by the valve case, a transverse cam shaft perpendicular to the yoke and independently rotatably held on and by the valve case with capacity for longitudinal shifting of the latter from and toward the yoke and the cam shaft, cam means on the shaft rotatively engagea'ble oppositely with the yoke and with the valve case respectively, and means to turn the shaft following placement of the coupler nose at the receiving connection thereby to pivot the coupler members into coupling use position [and to shift the case longitudinally on and relative to the head thereby to open the valve.

2. A coupler-valve unit for quickly attaching fluid supply lines to threaded receiving connections, said unit comprising an elongate tubular coupler head-and-valve element having a connection-engaging nose and a rear portion including a disc valve, -a valve case defining a main housing and manipulating body for the unit, said case slidably encompassing the rear portion of said head-andvalve element and including a valve seat for the valve thereof, laterally movable threaded coupler means slidably and pivotally mounted on said head-and-valve element adjacent the nose thereof, a rotary cam shaft with slide bearing means supporting it on the valve case with capacity for the latter to move from and toward the shaft in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the headand-valve element, a connective actuator for the coupler means, and cam means on the shaft effective on turning thereof to move the coupler means into connection engaging position and to slide the valve case on and relative to the head-and-valve element thereby to present an open fluid passage between the valve and valve seat.

3. A coupler-valve unit according to claim 2 wherein the coupler means are externally threaded for coupling engagement within internally threaded connections.

4. A coupler-valve unit according to claim 2 wherein the coupler means are internally threaded for coupling engagement with externally threaded connect-ions.

5. A quick-attaching manual device for coupling pressure-fluid supply lines to and controlling fluid flow at threaded tubular connections, said device comprising a generally cylindrical hand-conformant case directly defining a valve chamber having :an inlet and a forward central outlet with a rear-facing valve seat in said chamher, a tubular head in and having a nose projecting forwardly from the case to enter and abut a threaded tubular connection, the case being slidable on and sealed relative to said head, the inner end of the latter extending through the valve seat in the case chamber and carrying a valve having closing engagement therewith in normal rear position of the case, spring means in the case chamber urging the case to such rear position, a jaw carrier on the nose, a pair of opposed segmental threaded tubularconnection-engageable jaws pivoted on the carrier and having lateral arms, the case longitudinally slidably carrying a rigid frame connected at the front to the jaw arms and having a cross portion at the rear of the case,

'7 and rotary earn means acting between the case and the frame with the latter serving first as cam-controlled actuator for the jaws to engage them with the threading of the tubular connection and then as cam-thrust-opposing abutment to effect valve-opening forward movement of the case on and relative to the nose.

6. A quick-attaching manual device for coupling pressure-fluid supply lines to and controlling fluid flow at threaded tubular connections, said device comprising a generally cylindrical hand-conformant case directly defining a valve chamber having an inlet and a forward central outlet with a rear-facing valve seat in said chamber, a tubular head in and having a nose projecting forwardly from the case to enter and abut a threaded tubular connection, the case being slidable on and sealed relative to said head, the inner end of the latter extending through the valve seat in the case chamber and carrying a valve having closing engagement therewith in normal rear position of the case, spring means in the case chamber urging the case to such rear position, a jaw carrier on the nose, a pair of opposed segmental threaded tubular-connection-engageable jaws pivoted on the carrier and having lateral arms, a rigid frame comprising a rear cross-piece and longitudinal legs on the case with capacity for mutual relative longitudinal movement, the frame legs operatively connected to the respective jaw arms, plural rotary cam means acting between the frame cross-piece and the case, and a manual element to turn the cam means first to eifect threaded engagement of the jaws with the mouth threading of a tubular connection so as to anchor the frame thereto and then to shift the case bodily forward to unseat and open the valve.

7. A quick-attaching manual device for coupling pressure-fluid supply lines to and controlling fluid flow at threaded tubular connections, said device comprising a generally cylindrical hand-conformant case directly defining a valve chamber having an inlet and a forward central outlet with a rear-facing valve seat in said chamber, a tubular head in and having a nose projecting forwardly from the case to enter and abut a threaded tubular connection, the case being slidable on and sealed relative to said head, the inner end of the latter extending through the valve seat in the case chamber and carrying a valve having closing engagement therewith in normal rear position of the case, spring means in the case chamber urging the ease to such rear position, a jaw carrier on the nose, a pair of opposed segmental threaded tubular-connectionengageable jaws pivoted on the carrier and having lateral arms, a transverse shaft rotatably disposed at the rear of the case with capacity for axial movement of the case perpendicularly to the shaft axis, a rigid frame comprising a rear cross piece and lateral rods in slidable relation to the case, said rods respectively connected at the front ends to the arms of the corresponding jaws, and cam means on the shaft engageable on turning thereof first with the frame cross-piece to pivot and anchor the jaws to the threading of a tubular connection and thereafter with the case to advance it into open position of the valve thereof by thrust upon the case reacting through the rigid frame to the threadedly anchored jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,052,088 Prettyman Feb. 4, 1913 1,767,391 Muller June 24, 1930 1,977,118 De Mattia Oct. 16, 1934 2,444,451 Kelso July 6, 1948 2,484,924 Anderson Oct. 18, 1949