Fluid Conveyance and/or Distribution Device with Ring Nut Coupling

• US 20100025611A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F.I.P. Formatura Iniezione Polimeri S.p.A. (Aliaxis SA)
• Original Assignee: F.I.P. Formatura Iniezione Polimeri S.p.A. (Aliaxis SA)
• Inventors: Bisio, Andrea, Mazzacano, Corrado
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/292
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/602 Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided F16K31/605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0647 Spindles or actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/005 comprising locking means for the threaded member locking of screws or nuts per se F16B39/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/002 joints with taps taps in general F16K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1018 Pivoting closing devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6035 Rotary ball valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6109 Tool for applying or removing valve or valve member

Abstract

A device for conveying and/or distributing fluids comprises a housing with connection portions, one or more threaded ring nuts that can be screwed to the connection portions in order to join them, a control handle and a tightening seat formed in the housing and adapted to support the control handle in a tightening position, rotatable around a tightening axis. The control handle comprises a drive portion which, in the tightening position, engages with a coupling portion of the ring nut, in a manner such that a rotation of the control handle around the tightening axis leads to a screwing or an unscrewing of the ring nut.

Claims

1. Device for conveying and/or distributing fluids, comprising:

a housing with one or more tubular connection portions that are removably connectable with corresponding portions of a fluid conveyance and/or distribution system,

one or more threaded ring nuts that can be screwed to said connection portions in order to join them,

a control handle of said device,

wherein

said device comprises a tightening seat arranged at the housing and adapted to support the control handle in a tightening position and rotatable around a tightening axis,

said control handle comprises a drive portion which, in said tightening position, engages with a coupling portion formed in the ring nut, in a manner such that a rotation of the control handle around the tightening axis leads to a screwing or an unscrewing of the ring nut, depending on the rotation direction.

2. Device according to claim 1, comprising a control seat adapted to support said control handle in a control position that is different from said tightening position and rotatable around a control axis,

wherein, in the control position, the control handle does not engage with said coupling portion of the ring nut and interacts with the device in a manner such that a rotation of the handle around the control axis affects the passage of fluid, and

wherein, in the tightening position, a rotation of the control handle around the tightening axis does not affect the fluid passage.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the tightening seat is arranged near the control seat so as to allow the unscrewing and the screwing of the ring nut and the control of the device from a same side of the housing.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the tightening seat and the control seat are substantially coaxial and said control axis and said tightening axis substantially coincide.

5. Device according to claim 2, wherein said control handle comprises:

a first support portion for the removable fixing of the handle to the control seat,

a second support portion for the removable fixing of the handle to the tightening seat,

a control side and a tightening side opposite the control side in a manner such that, in the control position of the handle, said control side is turned towards the housing and, in the tightening position of the handle, said tightening side is turned towards the housing.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling portion of the ring nut comprises a ring gear and said drive portion of the control handle comprises a toothed section which engages said ring gear with control handle in tightening position and ring nut at least partially screwed.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the ring gear is formed in a front edge of the ring nut turned towards said tightening seat.

8. Device according to claim 6, wherein the ring gear comprises a continuous inner annular wall which is axially extended from a side wall of the ring nut and a series of teeth radially connected with the annular wall and axially connected with the side surface of the ring nut, wherein an inner surface of the annular wall opposite the teeth forms an extension of inner thread of the ring nut.

9. Device according to claim 6, wherein said drive portion of the control handle comprises a toothed sector section so as to make, together with the ring gear of the ring nut, a screwing and unscrewing sector engagement.

10. Device according to claim 1, comprising one or more abutment surfaces formed in said control handle and one or more stop surfaces formed in said housing, wherein said abutment surfaces and stop surfaces are configured so as to make one or more end stops of the screwing or unscrewing movement of the control handle in the tightening position.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein said one or more end stops of the screwing or unscrewing movement and said sector engagement are configured in a manner such that the unscrewing or screwing action always and only affects one of the one or more ring nuts.

12. Device according to claim 1, comprising one or more tightening rings that can be screwed into said tubular connection portions for ensuring the positioning of internal components of the device,

wherein said control handle comprises a mounting portion adapted for engaging a tool seat formed in said tightening ring as well as an inner wall of said ring and a wall of the tubular connection portion, in order to allow the mounting and dismantling of the tightening ring.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein said control handle comprises an elongated grip portion which delimits a cavity and said mounting portion is formed in said cavity.

14. Device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity and the mounting portion are formed on the tightening side of the handle in a manner such that, with handle in control position, they are turned towards the housing.

15. Device according to claim 1, comprising two opposite tubular connection portions, wherein said tightening seat is centrally arranged between the two connection portions, in a manner such that the control handle in tightening position allows the screwing and unscrewing of both the ring nuts associated with the two connection portions.

16. Device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a ball valve comprising a shutter and a drive shaft which connects the shutter with the control handle when this is supported in its control position.

17. Device according to claim 1, at least partially made of synthetic material.

18. Device of claim 1, wherein the device is a valve.