RIGID MOUNT ANTI-LEAK FLUID COUPLER

• US 20090229690A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Babayi, Frank, Eccles, Steven Robert, Reinis, Filip
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/614.30
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/04 with a cut-off device in each of the two pipe ends, the cut-off devices being automatically opened when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/34 at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve is telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other

Abstract

A fluid coupler for connecting two hydraulic appliances together without requiring flexible hoses is described. The fluid coupler enables fluid-tight connecting between fixed position components and allows for separating the hydraulic appliances without decoupling the coupler while maintaining fluid-tightness of both appliances after separation.

Claims

1. A fluid coupler comprising:

a main fluid housing being positionally fixed to and fluidly connected to a first hydraulic appliance;

a main fluid passage circumscribed by the main fluid housing;

a plug assembly being movable within the main fluid passage between a coupled position and a decoupled position;

a remote fluid receiver positionally fixed to and fluidly connected to a second hydraulic appliance;

the remote fluid receiver being engaged by the plug assembly in the coupled position;

the plug assembly in the coupled position providing fluid communication between the main fluid housing and the remote fluid receiver; and

the main fluid housing being wholly disengaged from the remote fluid receiver when the plug assembly is in the decoupled position.

2. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the plug assembly is threadably connected to the main fluid housing and moves between the coupled position and the decoupled position by engaging more thread and by engaging less thread.

3. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the plug assembly comprises:

a plug carrier moving within the main fluid passage;

a transition ring rotatably connected to the plug carrier, the transition ring being threadably engaged to the main fluid housing;

an adjuster connected to the transition ring, the adjuster being rotationally fixed to the ring;

the adjuster rotating the transition ring to to engage more thread and to engage less thread and causing the plug carrier to move between the coupled position and the uncoupled position.

4. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the main fluid housing further comprises:

a main fluid inlet extending into the main fluid passage; and

the main fluid inlet extending radially in the main fluid passage.

5. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the main fluid housing further comprises:

an annular channel around the housing; and

a plurality of main fluid inlets connecting the annular channel and the main fluid passage.

6. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the remote fluid receiver further comprises:

a receiver cavity; and

a receiver outlet extending radially into the receiver cavity.

7. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the remote fluid receiver further comprises:

a receiver cavity;

an annular channel around the remote fluid receiver; and

a plurality of receiver outlets connecting the annular channel and the receiver cavity.

8. The fluid coupler of claim 1 wherein the plug assembly comprises:

a plug carrier sliding concentrically within the main fluid passage;

a plug extension ring sliding concentrically and fluid-tightly within the plug carrier;

the plug extension ring extending outwards from the main fluid housing to engage the remote fluid receiver when the plug assembly is in the coupled position;

the plug extension ring providing fluid communication between the main fluid passage and the remote fluid receiver.

9. The fluid coupler of claim 8 wherein the plug assembly further comprises:

a plug fixed to the plug carrier and extending through the plug extension ring;

the plug sealing the plug extension ring fluid-tightly when the plug assembly is in the decoupled position;

the plug extending beyond the plug extension ring and unsealing from the plug extension ring to enable fluid communication between the main fluid passage and the remote fluid receiver when the plug assembly is in the coupled position.

10. A fluid coupler comprising:

a main fluid housing, the main fluid housing having a main fluid inlet;

the main fluid housing being positionally fixed to a first hydraulic appliance so that the main fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the first hydraulic appliance;

a main fluid passage being circumscribed by the main fluid housing;

a plug assembly being movable within the main fluid passage between a coupled position and a decoupled position;

a remote fluid receiver, the remote fluid receiver having a receiver outlet;

the remote fluid receiver being positionally fixed to a second hydraulic appliance so that the receiver outlet is in fluid communication with the second hydraulic appliance;

the remote fluid receiver being engaged by the plug assembly in the coupled position;

the plug assembly in the coupled position providing fluid communication between the main fluid housing and the remote fluid receiver; and

the plug assembly, when moving between the coupled position and the decoupled position, moving with respect to the main fluid inlet and with respect to the receiver outlet.

11. The fluid coupler of claim 10 wherein the main fluid housing further comprises:

a threaded flange concentric to the main fluid passage; and

wherein the plug assembly comprises;

a threaded adjuster connecting the plug assembly to the threaded flange; and

the adjuster rotating to move the plug assembly between the coupled position and the decoupled position.

12. The fluid coupler of claim 10 wherein the main fluid inlet extends radially into the main fluid passage.

13. The fluid coupler of claim 10 wherein the main fluid housing further comprises:

an annular channel around the housing; and

a plurality of main fluid inlets connecting the annular channel and the main fluid passage.

14. The fluid coupler of claim 10 wherein the plug assembly in the decoupled position is wholly disengaged from the remote fluid receiver.

15. The fluid coupler of claim 10 wherein the remote fluid receiver further comprises a receiver cavity, and wherein the receiver outlet extends radially into the receiver cavity.

16. The fluid coupler of claim 10 wherein the remote fluid receiver comprises:

a receiver cavity with a receiver opening;

the receiver cavity being fluidly connected to the receiver outlet;

a poppet valve being biased towards the receiver opening and sealing the receiver opening when the plug assembly is in the decoupled position; and

the poppet valve being moved away from the receiver opening by the plug assembly and unsealing the opening when the plug assembly is in the coupled position.

17. A fluid coupler comprising:

a main fluid housing, the main fluid housing having a main fluid inlet;

the main fluid housing being positionally fixed to a first hydraulic appliance so that the main fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the first appliance;

a main fluid passage being circumscribed by the main fluid housing;

a plug carrier sliding concentrically within the main fluid passage between a coupled position and a decoupled position;

the plug carrier having a plug extension ring sliding concentrically and fluid-tightly within the plug carrier;

the plug extension ring being biased outwards from the plug carrier and having an extension opening facing outwards from the plug carrier;

a plug fixed to the plug carrier and sliding concentrically within the plug extension;

the plug retracting the plug extension ring and sealing the extension opening when the plug carrier is in the decoupled position;

the plug extending beyond the extension opening and unsealing the extension opening to expose the main fluid passage when the plug carrier is in the coupled position;

a remote fluid receiver being engaged by the plug carrier in the coupled position;

the remote fluid receiver being positionally fixed to a second hydraulic appliance;

the remote fluid receiver being fluidly connected to the second hydraulic appliance;

the plug carrier in the coupled position providing fluid communication between the main fluid housing and the remote fluid receiver; and

the plug carrier in the decoupled position being wholly disengaged from the remote fluid receiver.

18. The fluid coupler of claim 17 wherein the main fluid inlet extends radially into the main fluid passage.

19. The fluid coupler of claim 17 wherein the main fluid housing further comprises:

an annular channel around the housing; and

a plurality of main fluid inlets connecting the annular channel and the main fluid passage.

20. The fluid coupler of claim 17 wherein the first hydraulic appliance is a pump and wherein the second hydraulic appliance is a fluid manifold.