WO2017153703A1

WO2017153703A1 - Quick connector

Info

Publication number: WO2017153703A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/050665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gwangho LEE; Hyunki Park; Phillip North
Original assignee: Edwards Limited; Edwards Korea Limited
Priority date: 2016-03-11
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2017-09-14
Also published as: CN209604734U; KR20180003206U; KR200493660Y1; DE212016000272U1

Abstract

A connector (10) arranged to connect with a conduit (12) is described. The connector (10) comprising an inner portion (16) having a first end (22) arranged to engage and cooperate with an end of a conduit (12) so that a fluid can pass through the conduit (12) and the connector (10). A sealing mechanism (24) is configured to form a seal between the conduit (12) and the inner portion (16) when the conduit (12) is engaged with the connector (10). An outer portion (18, 20) is formed around the first end (22) of the inner portion (16), such that the outer portion (18, 20) comprising a locking mechanism (28) to secure the end of a conduit (12) into the first end (22) of the connector (10) and to allow manual release of the conduit (12) from the connector (10). The inner portion (16) is made from the same material as the conduit (12) so that fluid passing through the conduit (12) and connector (10) is exposed only to one type of material. This arrangement can be deployed in cooling circuits, for example in vacuum pumps. Consistency of material type in the cooling circuit is required to prevent contamination of the coolant which could affect pump performance. The quick connectors allow for the cooling circuit to be detached from the pump body with relative ease and for pumps to be replaced whilst the bulk of cooling circuit can remain in situ.

Description

QUICK CONNECTOR

Introduction

This invention relates to a connector configured to connect one pipe or conduit to another conduit in a relatively quick and easy manner. Such connectors find particular use in vacuum pump cooling circuits, as described below. However it is understood that this invention is not limited to vacuum pump applications or to cooling circuits.

Background

Quick connectors (also known as quick couplings) are known in the art and generally comprise a female part that is designed to cooperate with an end of a pipe (the end of the pipe forming a male counterpart). The connector allows two pipes in a cooling circuit to be coupled with one another and form a secure mating arrangement whereby the two pipes are secured by the connector to form a sealed joint. A mechanism in the connector allows the end of the pipe to be separated from the connector by hand and without the use of tools. A user manually activates the mechanism on the connector to release the pipe from the connector.

Such connectors have found wide-spread use for connecting gas line, hydraulic pipes and cooling circuit components. Quick connectors are operated using a so called push fitting arrangement whereby the user pushes a male part (usually formed on the pipe end) into a female counterpart in the connector. Full engagement is achieved when the male and female parts are locked together. Such connectors or couplings do not comprise threaded components to secure the two halves of the coupling together and as a result tools are not needed to form an effective coupling. In a cooling circuit the connectors are used to connect or link pipework used to convey coolant around a circuit. The connectors facilitate easy assembly or disassembly of the circuit.

Typically the body of the quick connector components can be made from injection molded plastic components. However, such components suffer from wear, fatigue and degradation (by chemical reaction or hydrolysis, for example) and can fail after a period of use. Thus, there is a desire to increase the operational life cycle of the quick connectors. Additionally, the materials used in quick connectors may not match the pipe's materials used to form the cooling circuit. This can lead to problems if a corrosive fluid (for example, such as water) is conveyed through the quick connector. An anti-corrosion additive provided in the fluid can also cause corrosion to non- compatible parts in the connector that leads to failure of the connector or

contamination of the cooling fluid.

Summary of the Invention

In order to improve the state of the art, the present invention aims to provide a quick connector that does not suffer from the disadvantages described above. In broad terms, the present inventive concept is directed to a connector assembly having a first engaging portion formed at one end of a conduit and a second engaging portion formed on an inter-connecting part formed of an inner and outer portion. The inner portion is configured to receive the end of the conduit and is made from the same material as the conduit so that fluid passing through the connector and conduit is not exposed to different materials during transition through the connector. An outer portion of the connector is formed around the inner portion and comprises a locking mechanism that is configured to lock the conduit in place when it engages the connector. The locking mechanism can be manually operated to release the conduit from the connector. More specifically, there is provided a connector arranged to connect to a conduit, the connector comprising an inner portion for conveying a fluid through the connector, and an outer portion formed around an end of the inner portion, wherein the inner portion is made from the same material as the conduit, the outer portion comprises a locking mechanism to secure an end of a conduit into one end of the connector and allow manual release of the conduit, and a sealing mechanism to provide a seal between the conduit and the inner portion when an end of the conduit is secured to the connector.

Brief description of the Figures

Embodiments of the present invention are now described by way of example and with reference to the following drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a connector embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the connector shown in figure during use;

Figure 3 shows schematic diagrams of various other connectors that embody the present invention;

Figure 4 and figure 5 shows schematically the locking mechanism of the connectors embodying the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a method of manufacturing a connector;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of vacuum pump according to the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a schematic of an additional locking mechanism of connectors embodying the present invention.

Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in figure 1 and comprises a two- way connector 10 adapted to receive a conduit at either end 12, 14 of the connector. The connector comprises an inner portion 16 and outer portions 18 and 20 disposed at each end of the inner portion. The inner portion is made from the same material as the conduit, whereas the outer portion is made from a plastic material molded around the ends of the inner portion using an injection molding technique, as described in more detail below.

The inner portion 16 is generally tubular shaped and has three discrete portions of differing inner diameters. An end portion 22 at the open end 32 of the connector has the largest inner diameter and accommodates a sealing arrangement 24 to form a seal with the outer surface of the conduit when the conduit is inserted into the connector. An intermediate portion 25 has an inner diameter that is equivalent to the outer diameter of the conduit inserted into the connector. A central portion 26 has an inner diameter that is substantially equally to the inner diameter of the conduit inserted into the connector. A guiding unit 32 is provided to locate the conduit in a desired position as the conduit is inserted into the connector 10. The guiding unit 32 ensures that the conduit engages and cooperates with the O-ring seals 24 in the correct manner.

The outer portion 18, 20 of the connector extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the inner portion and each accommodates a locking mechanism 28. The locking mechanism is designed to engage with a collar formed in the outer diameter of the conduit, as described in more detail below.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the connector 10 described above showing a conduit 40, 42 inserted into each end of the connector to form a continual link and path way for fluid to pass from one conduit 40 to the next 42. Each conduit comprises a collar 44 in the outer diameter that is arranged to cooperate and engage with the locking mechanism of the connector. The collar forms a rib structure 44 that extends circumferentially around the outer diameter that passes through an orifice in the locking mechanism as the end of the conduit is inserted into the connector. The collar engages with the locking mechanism to prevent the conduit from disengaging with the connector during normal operation. The outer surface 46 of the conduit between the rib structure 44 and the open end of the conduit engages with the sealing mechanism when the conduit is inserted in the connector to prevent leakage of fluid during use. The sealing mechanism 24 comprises one or more O-rings. Additional retaining parts might be needed in order to keep the O-rings in place when the conduit is inserted or removed from the connector. The arrows 50 in figure 2 indicate the flow of fluid (liquid or gas) through the conduit 40 and connector 10 to the adjoining conduit 42. The fluid is only exposed to one type of conduit material during its passage because the conduit and the inner portion 12 of the connector are made from the same material, such as stainless steel (excluding the O-ring material). As a result, potential contamination of the fluid can be reduced or managed because the fluid is only exposed to one type of material in a circuit formed by the conduit and connector. There will usually be minimal exposure to the O-ring material forming any seal at the joins also.

Figure 3 illustrates two additional embodiments of the present invention. The end portions of the connector are as described above and comprise the same components and functionality. However, the inner portion of the connector is adapted for different use. For example, the first alternative embodiment 60 the inner portion is extended and curved compared to the first embodiment to provide an elbow joint. The curved inner portion 62 extends through 90 degrees to provide a right-angled elbow. Of course different curvatures can be used to provide a range of angles as desired. In a third embodiment 70 the inner portion 72 is formed as a T piece to provide a three- way connector. Here the connector has three ends, each having the outer portion and locking mechanism as required to enable normal functionality. In all cases, the inner portion is made from the same material as the conduit. Many different configurations are readily apparent to the killed person without leaving the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to figure 4 and figure 5, operation of the locking mechanism is described. The locking mechanism comprises a manually operable component that is accommodated in the outer portion of the connector. For clarity, the outer portion of the connector is not shown in figures 4 and 5. The locking mechanism comprises a deformable member 80 having an orifice 82 through which the conduit can pass, whereby the shape of the orifice is changeable between an open and closed position when a force is manually applied. The orifice if formed by legs 83 that extend between an actuation portion 84 at the top of the locking mechanism and a base portion 85 that extends across the base of a slot in which the locking mechanism is located. The legs are resilient and thereby provide a means by which the locking mechanism's natural state is a closed position. Pressing the actuation portion down, against the force applied by the legs, causes legs to deform and splay sideways, thereby opening the orifice. Upon release of the manual force, the resilient legs urge the actuation member back into its original position and the orifice returns to the closed position.

Referring to figure 5, the conduit is shown passing through the locking mechanism and being released from the locking mechanism. The insertion phase is achieved by pushing the conduit into the connector. The outer diameter of the conduit is roughly the same as the shortest width dimension of the orifice when the orifice is in the closed position so that the conduit can pass relatively easily into the connector until the collar engages with the locking mechanism. An additional force is required to push the collar through the orifice because the legs need to deform in order for the collar to pass through. Once the collar is through the orifice, the resilient legs return the orifice to its naturally occurring closed state, thereby closing the locking mechanism behind the collar to secure the conduit in place in the connector. The outer diameter of the conduit is the same either side of the collar. To release the conduit from the connector, a user applies a force to the actuation member causing the legs to deform and the orifice to open sufficiently to allow the rib structure to pass through the locking mechanism and out of the connector.

Referring to figure 8, an additional locking mechanism 89 is shown. The additional mechanism operates with the same broad principles as the locking mechanism described above, in that the device is manually operable by applying a pushing force to the activation portion (or actuator). This force causes an aperture designed to secure the pipe in position to move from a closed to an opened state. In the additional locking mechanism a double fulcrum 92 is provided at the bottom part of the mechanism opposite to the manual actuator 84, wherein the fulcrum is formed as an integral part of the outer portion or housing 91. When a force F is applied to the manual actuator 84, side bars (or linkages) 90 transmit a portion of the force from the top part of the mechanism to the bottom part 93. As a result, the lower bridging portion 93 engages with a lower portion of the housing that comprises two knuckles 92 disposed either side of the center line. The bridging portion engages with the knuckles causing a twisting motion and deformation of the lower bridging portion. In other words, the knuckles act as a fulcrum where the outer portions of the bridging portions move downwards and the inner portion moves upwards. The upwards movement of the lower bridging portion is approximately equal to the downwards movement of the actuator when a manual force is applied thereby causing the central aperture to deform and spread into an open position, allowing the connector pipe to be inserted or removed from the connector. The addition of the fulcrum has the advantage of maintaining the center point of the aperture in the same position as the aperture transitions between open and closed positions. Referring to figure 6, a method of manufacturing the connector unit is now described. First, an inner metal pipe section is formed from a length of pipe material and cut to the desired length. The sections having various radius dimensions are then formed by pressing or rolling the pipe prior to cutting to the desired length. The outer sections are formed by injection plastic molding the section onto the outside of the pipe. The pipe is inserted into an appropriate molding piece which is sealed. Plastic is then injected into the mold to for the plastic components. The locking mechanism and sealing parts can then be inserted into a cavity in the plastic portion arranged to accommodate the locking mechanism.

Referring to figure 7, a vacuum pump P is shown. The pump comprises a housing H that forms a stator S having a cavity in which a rotor R is provided. The rotor is driven by a motor M and, during use, the relative movement of the rotor to the stator causes gas molecules to move from an inlet I to an outlet O. The gas can be compressed by the action of the pump causing the pump body to heat up.

Furthermore, the movement of the rotor can also cause heating of the pump to occur. Thus, a cooling circuit C is provided. A coolant is provided in the circuit and driven around the circuit to remove thermal energy from the pump and to thereby manage or control the heating caused by pump operation. The circuit comprises a series of conduit parts 100 that are coupled together by a connector 110, as described above. The conduit is made from the same material as the inner portion of the connector. As the cooling circuit might be arranged as an independent component to the vacuum pump, the use of quick connectors allows for the cooling circuit to be manually disassembled from the vacuum pump in an efficient manner such that the pump can be removed and replaced during service intervals in the pump's life cycle. Likewise, a replacement pump can be easily inserted in a rack supporting the cooling circuit (and other systems) and any parts of the cooling circuit that are formed on the pump can be coupled to the main components of the cooling circuit using the connector described above.

Claims

A connector arranged to connect with a conduit, the connector comprising an inner portion having a first end arranged to engage and cooperate with an end of a conduit so that a fluid can pass through the conduit and the connector, a sealing mechanism configured to form a seal between the conduit and the inner portion when the conduit is engage with the connector, and

an outer portion formed around the first end of the inner portion, the outer portion comprising a locking mechanism to secure the end of a conduit into the first end of the connector and to allow manual release of the conduit from the connector,

wherein the inner portion is made from the same material as the conduit such that fluid passing through the conduit and connector is exposed only to one type of material.

A connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion is made of metal, preferably stainless steel.

A connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer portion is made from molded plastic formed about the inner portion.

A connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion comprises a second end distal from the first end,

the first and second ends are each arranged to engage and connect with a conduit,

each of the first and second ends comprises an outer portion, and

the inner portion extends between and connects each the first and second ends to one another.

A connector according to claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises an O-ring and a retainer to keep the O-ring in a desired location during use.

A connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a deformable member arranged to pass over and engage with an engagement element of a conduit to secure the conduit and connector together during operation.

A connector according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resilient portion for urging the deformable member towards a closed position.

A connector according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an activation portion for manual operation of the locking mechanism and for moving the deformable member from the closed position to an open and position.

A connector according to claim 6 and 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises side linkages to transmit a portion of a manually applied force to a lower bridging portion that cooperates with a fulcrum disposed on the outer portion, so arranged that downward movement of the activation portion causes an equal upward movement of the lower bridging portion, and wherein the deformable member is caused to spread into the open position by the relative movement of the activation portion and the lower bridging portion.

A vacuum pump comprising

a pumping mechanism arranged to urge gas from an inlet towards an outlet during operation of the pump, the pumping mechanism having a rotor and stator component housed in a housing, and

a cooling system for cooling at least a portion of the pumping mechanism; wherein the cooling system comprises a coolant disposed in a cooling circuit having a plurality of conduits arranged to convey the coolant through the cooling circuit,

wherein a first conduit is coupled to a second conduit by a connector, characterized in that the connector comprises

an inner portion having a first end arranged to engage and cooperate with an end of a conduit so that a fluid can pass through the conduit and the connector, a sealing mechanism configured to form a seal between the conduit and the inner portion when the conduit is engage with the connector, and

11. A vacuum pump according to claim 10, wherein the inner portion and the conduit is made of metal, preferably stainless steel.

A vacuum pump according to claim 10, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises an O-ring and a retainer to keep the O-ring in a desired location during use.

A vacuum pump according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a deformable member arranged to pass over and engage with an engagement element of a conduit to secure the conduit and connector together during operation.

A vacuum pump according to claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resilient portion for urging the deformable member towards closed position.

A vacuum pump according to claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an activation portion for manual operation of the locking mechanism and for moving the deformable member from the closed position to an open and position.