DISENGAGEABLE SAFETY COUPLING FOR CONDUITS

• US 3,826,464 A
• Filed: 04/09/1973
• Issued: 07/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans Berghofer
• Original Assignee: Hans Berghofer
• Inventors: Berghofer, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Application Number:
  US05/348,784
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.1,149,149.2,149.5,149.8,149.9 137/614.06
• US Class Current: 251/149.9
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/04 yieldingly resisting the actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/28 with fluid cut-off means

Abstract

A first coupling member has a first and a second port communicating with its interior, and a valve body is accommodated in the first coupling member and has a passage. The valve body is turnable relative to the first coupling member between a position permitting fluid flow between the ports, a position preventing fluid flow, and a coupling position. A second coupling member is insertable into and withdrawable from the passage of the valve body so as to be coupled and turnable with the latter but only when the valve body is in its coupling position. The valve body is provided with a collar coaxial with its turning axis and extending in sealing relationship through an opening of the first coupling member. This collar is provided with one or more circumferential first slots whose length corresponds to the angular distance between the fluid-flow blocking position and the coupling position and which has an axially recessed end portion. A second collar is provided on the first coupling member, surrounding the opening therein as well as the first collar, and having at the level of the first end portion a circumferentially extending second slot whose length corresponds to the angular distance between the fluid-flow permitting and fluid-flow blocking positions and which has an axially recessed second end portion extending to the level of the first slot. A control member is provided for effecting manual turning of the valve body between its positions. The control member is coaxial with the second collar and has at least one connecting member turnable with the control member and having portions extending into the slots. These portions are received in the first end portion when the valve member is located intermediate its fluid-flow permitting and fluid-flow blocking positions, and in the second end portion when the valve member is intermediate its fluid-flow blocking and coupling positions.

Claims

1. Disengageable safety coupling for conduits, comprising a first coupling member provided with an interior space having a first and a second port;

a valve body accommodated in said first coupling member and having a flowpath-defining passage, said valve body being turnable relative to said first coupling member between a first position in which said passage communicates with and permits fluid flow between said ports, a second position in which said passage is out of communication with said ports and fluid flow between the same is prevented, and a third position;

a second coupling member insertable into and withdrawable from one end of said passage only when said valve body is in said third position;

coupling means for releasably coupling said second coupling member to said valve body when said second coupling member is inserted into said one end of said passage;

a first collar provided on said valve body coaxial with the turning axis thereof and extending in sealing relationship through an opening of said first coupling member, said first collar having at least one circumferential first slot whose length corresponds to the angular distance between said second and third positions and which has an axially recessed first end portion;

a second collar on said first coupling member surrounding said opening and said first collar and having at the level of said first end portion a circumferentially extending second slot whose length corresponds to the angular distance between said first and second positions and which has an axially recessed second end portion extending to the level of said first slot; and

a control member for effecting manual turning of said valve body between said first and second positions thereof, said control member being arranged coaxially with said second collar and comprising at least one connecting member turnable with said control member and having portions extending into said slots and adapted to be received in said first end portion in all positions of said valve body between said first and second positions, and to be received in said second end portion in all positions of said valve body between said second and third positions.

2. A coupling as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising biasing means engaging said control member and connecting member and urging both thereof axially of said collars and in direction outwardly away from said opening.

3. A coupling as defined in claim 1, said control member having an outer exposed surface provided with an elongated portion extending transversely of the turning axis of said control member for affording a visual indication of the respective position of said valve body.

4. A coupling as defined in claim 1, said control member having a projection extending into the confines of said collars, and an annular skirt surrounding said projection radially outwardly thereof and being located radially outwardly of said second collar;

and wherein said connecting member is a connecting pin extending transversely of the turning axis of said control member and valve body, and being mounted on at least one of said projection and skirt.

5. A coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said collars are each provided with an additional one of said first and second slots, respectively, the slots of each collar being located diametrally opposite one another and the respective axially recessed end portions being located at the same ends of the slots in each collar.

6. A coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said first slot is a cutout recessed in a free axial endface Of said first collar.

7. A coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said control member is a control knob.

8. A coupling as defined in claim 1, said control member comprising a projection extending into said first collar, and said valve body having a transverse wall portion extending across said first collar inwardly of an open end thereof through which said projection extends;

and further comprising a helical expansion spring received in said first collar and bearing with its opposite ends on said wall and said projection, respectively.

9. A coupling as defined in claim 1, wherein said second slot and second end portion merge with one another via an arcuately curved intermediate portion.

10. A coupling as defined in claim 1;

further comprising blocking means for blocking said valve body against rotation from said third to said second and first positions when said second coupling member is withdrawn from said passage; and

unblocking means for unblocking said valve body in response to insertion of said second coupling member into said passage.