Quick disconnect fluid transfer system

• US 4,527,745 A
• Filed: 05/23/1983
• Issued: 07/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spraying Systems Company North AVE At Schmale Road Wheaton ILL 60187
• Original Assignee: Spraying Systems Company
• Inventors: O'Brien, Edward J., Butterfield, Ted, Bird, George E., Paulsen, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moon, Jr., James R.
• Application Number:
  US06/496,968
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 220/327, 277/168, 277/169, 277/207, 285/158, 285/197, 285/376, 285/401, 285/402, 239/590.3, 239/600
• US Class Current: 239/600
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/40 Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/658 the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Abstract

A fluid transfer system including a cap member having a first fluid transfer member therein and being removably mountable on a second fluid transfer member. Cooperating lugs and slots formed by the cap member and second member lock the two members together when the cap is placed on the second member and rotated relative thereto. A resilient annular gasket is disposed between the second member and cap member and surrounds the liquid passageway therethrough to prevent leakage. The second member and cap members form an annular space on one side of the outer peripheral portion of the gasket, and an annular bead presses against the other side of the outer peripheral portion of the gasket so that the bead bends that portion of the gasket into the annular space to effect a liquid-tight seal on both sides of the gasket. In the preferred embodiment, the locking lugs are formed on the second member which fits inside the cap member, and the locking slots formed by the cap member extend radially through the wall of the cap member so that the cooperating lugs on the body member are visible through the slots. The slots form cam surfaces which force the cap member tightly onto the second member, and locking notches adjacent the ends of the cam surfaces for holding the cap member in a predetermined locked position. The ends of the notches adjacent the cam surfaces are tapered in the direction of the cam surfaces so that the application of a turning torque to the cap is sufficient to disengage the locking notches from the lugs, thereby facilitating disassembly of the cap. In one embodiment, the fluid transfer system comprises a spray nozzle assembly in which the first fluid transfer member is a spray tip seated in the cap, and in alternate embodiments, pipe coupling assemblies are disclosed wherein the first and second fluid transfer members are pipe sections.

Claims

1. A fluid transfer system comprising the combination of

a cap member having a first fluid transfer member supported therein, a second fluid transfer member having an end positionable in axially spaced fluid communication with an end of said first fluid transfer member, said cap member and second fluid transfer member having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said cap and second members together when the cap member is placed on said second member and rotated relative thereto,

resilient annular gasket disposed between said second member and cap member and surrounding the ends of said first and second members, and

said cap and second members forming (1) an annular space on one side of an outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket, and (2) an annular sealing end pressing against the other side of said outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket so that said sealing end bends said outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket into said annular space to effect a liquid-tight seal on both sides of said gasket.

2. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherin the portion of said annular sealing end that engages said gasket is smoothly rounded in the radial direction.

3. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap member telescopes over the end of said second fluid transfer member, said locking lugs are formed on said second member, and said locking slots are formed in said cap member and extend radially through the wall of said cap member so that said lugs are visible through said slots.

4. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 1 in which said annular sealing end is formed on the end of said second member, and said annular space is formed by said cap member.

5. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 1 in which said first fluid transfer member is a spray tip seated in said cap member, said gasket is located on the inner end of said spray tip and extends radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said spray tip, said annular sealing end is formed on the end of said second member, and said annular space is formed by said cap member.

6. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 1 in which said first and second fluid transfer members are respective first and second pipe sections.

7. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 6 in which said first pipe section is a flexible conduit having an end fixed to said cap member.

8. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 6 in which said said cap member is mounted on the end of said first pipe section for relative rotational longitudinal movement.

9. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 8 in which said first pipe section has a flanged end seated in said cap, said gasket is located adjacent said flanged end and extends radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said flange end, said annular sealing end is formed on the end of said second pipe section, and said annular space is formed by said cap member.

10. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 1 in which said annular sealing end is formed on the end of said second fluid transfer member, said cap member has an integrally formed upstanding annular ledge about an axial passageway in fluid communication with said first and second fluid transfer members, said annular space is formed by said cap member radially outwardly of said annular ledge, said gasket is disposed between said annular ledge and said annular sealing end, and said annular sealing end has a larger diameter than said annular ledge.

11. A fluid transfer system comprising the combination of

a cap member having a first fluid transfer member disposed therein, said first fluid transfer member having an end seated in said cap member with the immediately adjacent portion of said cap member defining an annular axially recessed space below said first fluid transfer member end,

a second fluid transfer member adapted for coaxial mounting with respect to said cap member and first fluid transfer member, said cap member and second fluid transfer member having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said members to each other when they are fitted together and rotated relative to each other,

a resilient gasket disposed between the ends of said first and second fluid transfer members, said gasket having a peripheral edge portion extending radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of said ends, and

an annular sealing portion formed on the end of said second fluid transfer member for engaging the peripheral edge portion of said gasket that is beyond the outer periphery of said first fluid transfer member and bending the engaged peripheral edge portion of said gasket in an axial direction about the outer periphery of said first fluid transfer member end into said recessed space to effect a reliable liquid seal between said annular selaing portion of said second fluid transfer member and said peripheral edge portion of said gasket and between the outer periphery of said first fluid transfer member and the peripheral edge portion of said gasket.

12. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said resilient annular gasket is in the form of a flat washer.

13. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the annular sealing portion that engages said gasket is smoothly rounded in the radial direction.

14. The fluid transfer system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said recessed annular space defined by said cap extends from the periphery of the inner end of said first fluid transfer member to the outer periphery of said gasket, so that the entire outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket, beyond the periphery of said first fluid transfer member end, can be bent axially into said space by said sealing portion.

15. A fluid transfer system comprising the combination of

a cap member having a first fluid transfer member, a second fluid transfer member adapted for fluid communication with said first fluid transfer member, said cap member and second fluid transfer member having cooperating lugs and slots for releasably locking said members together when the cap memberis placed on said second member and rotated relative thereto,

said locking slots being formed by said cap member and extending radially through the wall of said cap member so that said lugs are visible through said slots, portions of at least one wall of each of said slots forming locking surfaces which cooperate with said lugs to lock said cap member to said lugs in response to rotational displacement of said slots over said lugs, and

said cap member further being formed with axial access grooves for admitting said lugs into said slots, the axial length of said grooves being shorter than the axial length

16. A fluid transfer system comprising the combination of

a cap member having a first fluid transfer member, a second fluid transfer member adapted for fluid communication with said first fluid transfer member, said cap member and second fluid transfer member having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said cap member and second member together when the cap is placed on said second member and rotated relative thereto,

said slots forming cam surfaces which cam said cap member tightly onto second member as said cap and second members are rotated relative to each other,

said slots also forming notches adjacent the ends of said cam surfaces for engaging said lugs and holding said cap member in a predetermined lock position relative to said lugs, the ends of said notches adjacent said cam surfaces being tapered in the direction of said cam surfaces so that the application of a turning torque to said cap member is sufficient to disengage said locking notches from said lugs so that said cap member can be removed from said second member, and

said engaging surfaces of said lugs and the ends of said notches lying on radii of said cap member so that said lugs are engaged along their entire radial width.

17. A spray nozzle assembly comprising the combination of

a cap member having a spray tip therein with a liquid passageway for conducting liquid into said spray tip, and a body member for supplying liquid to said passageway and spray tip, said cap and body member having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said members together when the cap is placed on said body member and rotated relative thereto,

a resilient annular gasket disposed between said body and cap members and surrounding the liquid passageway leading into said spray tip to prevent liquid from leaking out of said passageway, and

said cap and second members forming (1) an annular space on one side of an outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket, and (2) an annular sealing end pressing against the other side of said outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket so that said sealing end bends said outer peripheral edge portion of said gasket into said annular space to effect a liquid-tight seal on both sides of said gasket.

18. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said spray tip is seated in said cap member, said gasket is located on the inner end of said spray tip and the peripheral portion thereof extends radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said spray tip, said annular sealing end being formed on the end of said body member, and said annular space is formed by said cap member.

19. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said annular sealing end that engages said gasket is smoothly rounded in the radial direction.

20. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said cap member telescopes over the end of said body member, said locking lugs are formed by said body member, and said locking slots are formed by said cap member and extend radially through the wall of said cap member so that said lugs are visible through said slots.

21. A spray nozzle assembly comprising the combination of

coaxial body and cap members having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said members to each other when they are fitted together and rotated relative to each other,

a spray tip seated in said cap member with the immediately adjacent portion of said cap defining an annular axially recessed space below the inner end of said spray tip, and

a resilient gasket disposed between the ends of said first and second fluid transfer members, said gasket having a peripheral edge portion extending radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the inner end of said spray tip, and

an annular sealing portion formed on the end of said second fluid transfer member for engaging the peripheral edge portion of said gasket that is beyond the outer periphery of said spray tip and bending the engaged peripheral edge portion of said gasket in an axial direction along the side walls of said spray tip.

22. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said resilient annular gasket is in the form of a flat washer.

23. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein the portion of said annular sealing portion that engages said gasket is smoothly rounded in the radial direction.

24. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said recessed space defined by said cap extends from the periphery of the inner end of said spray tip to the outer periphery of said gasket, so that the entire peripheral edge portion of said gasket, beyond the periphery of the spray tip, can be bent axially into said space by said annular sealing portion.

25. A spray nozzle assembly comprising the combination of

a cap member having a spray tip therein, and a body member for supplying liquid to said spray tip, said cap and body member having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said members together when the cap is placed on said body member and rotated relative thereto,

said locking slots being formed by said cap member and extending radially through the wall of said cap member so that said lugs are visible through said slots, portions of at least one wall of each of said slots forming locking surfaces which cooperate with said lugs to lock said cap member to said lugs in response to rotational displacement of said slots over said lugs, and

said cap member further being formed with axial access grooves for admitting said lugs into said slots, the axial length of said grooves being shorter than the axial length of said lugs so that said lugs are always visible beyond at least one end of said access grooves.

26. The spray noxxle assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein the end walls of each of said slots taper inwardly toward each other to facilitate the molding thereof.

27. A spray nozzle assembly comprising the combination of

a cap member having a spray tip adapted for imparting a determined form of spray pattern to pressurized liquid passing through said spray tip,

a body member for supplying liquid to said spray tip,

an annular resilient sealing member interposed between said cap and body members,

said cap and body members having cooperating lugs and slots for locking said members together when the cap is placed on said body member and rotated relative thereto,

said slots being formed in said cap member and extending radially through the wall of said cap member so that said lugs are visible through said slots,

said slots defining cam surfaces which cam said cap member tightly onto said body member as said cap and body members are rotated relative to each other with said interposed sealing member biasing said cap member and body member in opposed relation while creating a liquid tight seal therebetween, and

said slots further defining notches adjacent the ends of said cam surfaces for engaging said lugs and holding said cap member in a predetermined locked position relative to said lugs with the spray tip in predetermined orientation with respect to said body member.

28. A spray nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein the engaging surfaces of said lugs and the ends of said notches lie on radii of said cap member so that said lugs are engaged along their entire radial width.

29. The spray nozzle assembly of claim 27 in which

said spray tip is removably positionable in said cap member,

said cap member being formed with an aperture that allows said spray tip to extend through one end thereof, and

said cap member has a plurality of integrally formed spring fingers on at least one of the walls of said aperture for engaging the adjacent side of said spray tip and applying a biasing force to said spray tip to hold it snugly in said cap member.

30. The spray nozzle assembly of claim 27 in which said spray tip is a separate removable and replacable member seated in said cap member, and said resilient sealing means is interposed between said spray tip member and said body member.

31. The spray nozzle assembly of claim 27 in which the ends of said notches adjacent said cam surfaces are tapered in the direction of said cam surfaces so that the application of a turning torque to said cap member is sufficient to disengage the locking notches form said lugs to facilitate removal of said cap member from said body member.