WO2012048379A1

WO2012048379A1 - Shroud member

Info

Publication number: WO2012048379A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/001308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Debeuz
Original assignee: A.G.C.D. Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 2010-10-13
Filing date: 2011-10-13
Publication date: 2012-04-19
Also published as: AU2011316486A1; AU2011101777A4

Abstract

There is disclosed a shroud member (10) for protecting an exposed coupling or fitting, (22, 26) on a vehicle or item of machinery. The shroud member comprises a sleeve (12) of a flexible material having an open first end (11) adapted to be fitted over the exposed coupling or fitting (22, 26) and an open second end (13) positioned remote from said first end (11). The open second end (13) having a closure means for facilitating at least partial closure of the open second end (13) during use.

Description

SHROUD MEMBER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a protective shroud member and, in particular, to a shroud member that can be used to protect fluid outlets and connections that are typically exposed to the elements, such as air or hydraulic lines or cables in vehicles and machinery.

BACKGROUND

The delivery of fluid to be used to perform a function or purpose is well established. A variety of fluid delivery systems exist in everyday life whereby fluid, which may be in the form of a liquid, such as water, or a gas. such as air, is delivered from an outlet or supply to a destination via a pipe or the like. Generally, the source of the fluid stores the fluid under pressure, whereby when a fitting is connected to an outlet of the source, the fluid is able to travel from the source to the destination under pressure.

Common forms of fluid delivery systems are water supply systems in a domestic environment, as well as LPG gas systems which may be employed to supply fuel for use in cooking, heating and the like. Common to most fluid supply or delivery systems is the requirement to have an outlet that is configured to mate with a connector of a hose or the like to provide a sealed connection between the fluid source and the destination to facilitate controlled delivery of the fluid, typically under pressure, without leakage.

One particular example of such a system is a hydraulic or pneumatic system often used in machinery and transport. Typically, such systems employ a pressured supply of air or liquid which can be delivered in a controlled manner to operate machinery or brakes on a vehicle.

In this regard, it is well known that there have been difficulties with connections between trucks and their trailers and/or trucks and their ancillary equipment which have to be inter-connected by air lines, hydraulic lines, electric cables or the like.

Particularly with tip trucks and transport vehicles that tow trailers and the like, where such connections are beneath the rear of the tray, there can be a substantial amount of material dropped onto or around the point of connection when the contents of the truck are being delivered. This has the potential to cause damage to the connection points on the vehicle. Further to this, as the connection points for the hydraulic and/or the pneumatic supply are generally located towards an underside of a vehicle and where the vehicles are being used on loose and particularly wet surfaces, mud, dust , stones and soil can be thrown up onto and about the connection, which may infiltrate the sockets or couplings and cause damage to the connections.

It will be appreciated that over time, where connection points and couplings are exposed to the elements and the potential damage such exposure may produce, the connections may lose their ability to mate with a hose or similar connector attached thereto. This could cause the seal between the fluid source and the destination becoming lost which could reduce the functionality of the destination and, In some instance, produce system failure. Where the system Is employed in a vehicle or machinery this could result in expensive repairs to the vehicle or machinery and significant down-time, which can be a significant costs to the operator.

The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not Intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the above prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is desirable that the present invention provides a means whereby extraneous material such as dust, dirt and other impurities is prevented from passing to the point of connection of air lines, hydraulic lines or cables on trucks.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a shroud member for protecting an exposed coupling or fitting of a fluid supply, such as in a vehicle or item of machinery, comprising: a sleeve of a flexible having an open first end adapted to be fitted over the exposed coupling or fitting and an open second end positioned remote from said first end, the open second end having a closure means for facilitating at least partial closure of the open second end during use.

In one embodiment, the open first end has a draw string member provided adjacent the open end thereof, said draw string member configured to facilitate tightening of the first end about the exposed coupling or fitting to substantially seal the coupling or fitting from exposure to the environment..

The open second member may be configured to receive one or more connecter members that are provided to engage with the fitting or coupling, and the closure means is provided to at least partially close about the one or more connector members. The one or more connector members may be one or more Hoses or the like that are connected to the fitting or coupling.

The closure means may comprise one or more press studs located adjacent the open second end to facilitate at least partial closure of the second end.

In another aspect, there is provided a shroud or sleeve of a flexible material which is adapted to pass about the lines or cables to be protected and having means whereby it can be removeably connected to the vehicle or components thereon.

In one form of the invention the shroud may have press fasteners or the like which can effect a connection, or could have hook and loop fastener components, such as Velcro® components, to permit closure. At the other end of the shroud there may be a drawstring.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a shroud member for protecting an outlet of a fluid supply comprising: a sleeve of flexible material having a first end adapted to be fitted over the outlet so as to be securable thereto; and a second end positioned remote from said first end, the second end having a closure means for facilitating at least partial closure of the second end during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a rear portion of a vehicle showing the hydraulic system with a hose connected to the couplings;

Fig. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention employed to protect the hydraulic system of Fig. 1 with the hoses in position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a rear portion of a vehicle showing the hydraulic system with the hose disconnected from the couplings;

Fig. 4 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention employed to protect the couplings of the hydraulic system of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in isolation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

The present invention will be described in relation to the application of the device for use in a vehicle, such as a truck suitable for towing a trailer. However, it will be appreciated that the device of the present invention may have many other applications to other types of vehicles as well as equipment where coupling members for receiving hoses and the like are provided and are generally exposed to the elements. Such equipment may Include machinery, such as farm machinery and the like that employ pneumatic or hydraulic actuation systems, as well as various other liquid or gas delivery systems that rely upon delivery of a fluid, under pressure, to a destination.

Referring to Figure 1, the rear of a vehicle 20 is partially shown, namely a truck suitable for towing a trailer. Generally, such vehicles 20 comprise a compressed air line having one or more sockets or couplings 22 that facilitate connection of compressed air from the vehicle 20 to a traitor (not shown) by way of a hose 24. In this specific arrangement, compressed air is able to be supplied from the vehicle 20 via the hose 24 to the trailer to provide pressurised air to operate the brakes of the trailer. However, It will be appreciated that the pressurised air could be used by the trailer for a variety of purposes and still fall within the spirit of the present invention. Such arrangements are common in the industry and for most vehicles 20 there Is provided at least one socket 22 connected to an air line on the vehicle, and preferably two such sockets 22. The trailer or the like is generally provided with air hoses 24 which are adapted to inter-engage with the sockets 22. Engagement between the sockets 22 and the hoses 24 is typically by conventional reieasable couplings 26, which enable connection and disconnection of the trailer, without air being released from the pressure side. Similar connections can be made if hydraulic lines are to be used.

As shown in Figure 3, when not in use, the sockets 22 and the couplings 24 are typically exposed to the elements at the rear of the vehicle 20. In such an exposed arrangement, the couplings 24 and socket 22 is typically susceptible to contact with oil, the ingress of dirt, mud or the like, as well as exposed to contact and collisions with other vehicles or machinery, which has the potential to damage or compromise the sealing nature of the couplings. Typically this may result in the ongoing need to clean the couplings and, over time, complete replacement of the coupUngs, as they lose their ability to provide a sealed means for interconnection. This can be a significant concern and cost to vehicle fleet operators, particularly as there may be significant costs associated with repairing the connections and as the vehicles become inactive whilst awaiting repair.

Referring to Figure 5, a shroud 10 according to the present invention is shown. The shroud 10 is in the form of a sleeve 12 of flexible material. The sleeve 12 is substantially tubular in configuration and has an open first end 11 that is substantially wider than the second end 13. in this regard, the sleeve 12 tapers from the open first end 11 to the second end 13 in the manner as shown in Figure 5. The first open end 11 is typically wider than the second end 13 as the first open end is configured to fit over and around the outlets or sockets. The second end 13 may be open to accommodate a hose or the like that may be connected to the outlet or socket during use. Alternatively, the second end may be closed, so as to protect the sockets and connectors when they are not in use thus the shroud 10 forms a seal about the sockets and connectors of the system.

The sleeve 12 is preferably made from a woven fabric possibly having an outer layer of a synthetic plastics material so that the sleeve 12 remains flexible. The plastics coating may act as a surface which is either partly self cleaning, in that material does not tend to adhere thereto, or can readily be cleaned. The surface may also by hydrophobic so as to repel fluid away from entering the inside of the shroud 10 and may be UV resistant to cope with exposure to sun.

In a preferred form, the sleeve 12 is made of a single tube of a fabric. However, the sleeve 12 may be made from more than one pieces of fabric connected together to form an open ended tubular arrangement, as desired.

The first end 11 of the shroud 10 is provided with a closure member 15 to facilitate positioning the shroud 10 about the hydraulics of the vehicle 20, as is shown in Figures 2 and 4. The closure member 15 is preferably in the form of a drawstring or the like that is incorporated into the body of the sleeve, adjacent the open first end 11.

In an embodiment where the second end 13 is open, the second end 13 of the shroud 10 may be provided with connecting members 14, in the form of a pair of press studs, positioned about a periphery thereof. The connecting members 14 may provide the means for closing off the open end when the hydraulic line is not in use, as is shown in Figure 4, or for fitting the second end snugly about a hose or the like, as is shown in Figure 2, so as to prevent the ingress of dirt, duet and the like into the interior of the shroud 10. When the shroud 10 is fitted about a hose, in the manner as shown in Figure 2, the shroud acts to assist in protecting the hose from splitting. It will be appreciated that the connecting members 14 may take a variety of forms and may include hook and loop fastener components, such as Vetera® components, to further facilitate closure of the second end 13.

In order to position the shroud 10 for use in the manner as shown in Figure 2, the sleeve 12 is Initially passed over the hoses 24 or the like associated with the trailer and the connectors on the hoses are connected to the complimentary connectors on the vehicle to make an air line connection between the trailer and the vehicle 20, in the manner as shown in Figure 1. The first end 11 of the sleeve 12 can then be slid over the couplings 26 and socket 22 such that the closure member 15 can be employed to create a substantially sealed connection around the base of the socket 22 and become tightened in place. This not only ensures a firm anchorage of the shroud to the socket 22, but also ensures that there is a protective barrier about the socket 22 that reduces the ingress of dust, dirt and the like into contact with the socket 22 and couplings 24. The second end 13 can then be closed about the hose 24 or free end of the arrangement through the use of the connecting members 14 so that the end of the sleeve can be effectively closed and can encompass the connector area. As the shroud 10 is made from a flexible and durable material, the shroud is able to accommodate a degree of movement of the hoses 24 during use without adversely affecting the substantially sealed environment created within the shroud 10.

As discussed above, it will be appreciated that Instead of press studs, the shroud 10 could be provided with hook and loop fastener components, such as Velcro® components, on its inner surface and this may enable a more universal type connection as it can cope with various sizes of connectors or the like.

In a second embodiment, not shown, the sleeve 12 could be formed from a flat sheet of material, and in this case the shroud 10 may be formed by wrapping the material around the hoses 24 and connecter couplings 26 after the connection was made.

Also, instead of a drawstring at the first end 11 of the shroud 10, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro® components could be provided to enable this end to be closed. Similar hook and loop fastener components may also be provided on the vehicle to provide an anchorage means for anchoring the first end of the shroud 10 to the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple yet effective solution of overcoming a problem which has been recognised in industries, such as the transport industry, for many years. By addressing the problem of the fouling of couplings and sockets in compressed air systems that are typically exposed to the elements and located on vehicles and the like in regions that lend themselves to dust and mud exposure as well as impact, significant costs savings in the operation of vehicles and machinery is achievable by ensuring that the vehicles not only remain operational, but also require less maintenance.

It will be appreciated that the shroud of the present invention may assume a variety of sizes to accommodate a variety of different sized systems. In this regard, due to the simple nature of the device, the shroud can be readily adapted such that a single shroud could be adapted to accommodate a plurality of sockets and connectors, or a single socket and connector.

Claims

The claims defining the Invention are as follows:

1. A shroud member for protecting an exposed coupling or fitting on a vehicle or item of machinery, comprising: a sleeve of a flexible material having an first end adapted to be fitted over the exposed coupling or fitting and a second end positioned remote from said first end, the second end having a closure means for facilitating at least partial closure of the second end during use.

2. A shroud member according to daim 1, wherein the first end has a draw string member provided adjacent the end thereof, said draw string member configured to facilitate tightening about the exposed coupling or fitting to substantially seal the coupling or fitting from exposure to an environment.

3. A shroud member according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second end is configured to receive one or more connecter members that are provided to engage with the fitting or coupling, and the closure means is provided to at least partially close the second end about the one or more connector members.

4. A shroud member according to claim 3, wherein the one or more connector members comprise one or more hoses adapted to extend through the second end.

5. A shroud member according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the closure means comprises one or more press studs located adjacent the second end to facilitate at least partial closure of the second end.

6. A shroud member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shroud member is removeably connected to the coupling or fitting

7. A shroud member for protecting an outlet of a fluid supply comprising: a sleeve of flexible material having a first end adapted to be fitted over the outlet so as to be securable thereto; and

a second end positioned remote from said first end, the second end having a closure means for facilitating at least partial closure of the second end during use.

8. A shroud member according to claim 7, wherein the closure means provides complete closure of the second end.