Pressure-tight plug coupling

• US 4,716,938 A
• Filed: 05/14/1986
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erwin Weh, Wolfgang Weh
• Original Assignee: Erwin Weh, Wolfgang Weh
• Inventors: Weh, Erwin, Weh, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peters, L. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/862,936
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 138/89, 138/93, 285/34, 285/35, 285/102, 285/921, 285/306, 285/83, 285/101, 285/322, 285/323, 285/316, 73/49.8, 141/342, 137/614.06, 251/149.9
• US Class Current: 138/93
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/1215 using hooks provided with a screw-thread adapted to engage and mesh with an appropriate corresponding part
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/136 the closure device being a plug fixed by radially expanding or deforming a split ring, hooks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with a connecting member comprising a cylindrical housing; a piston shiftable within the housing clamping jaws connected to the piston and concentrially arranged around the longitudinal axis of the housing and radially displaceable by means of a ramp arrangement by an axial movement of the piston relative to the housing; pressure is applied to said piston for moving it in longitudinal direction of the housing thereby pressing the clamping jaws radially inwards or outwards by means of said ramp arrangement. The free ends of the clamping jaws are moved into an engaging position for engagement with said connecting member.

Claims

1. A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with threaded connecting means having a front face surface comprising:

a cylindrical housing provided at an open front side, with a surface corresponding to that of said connecting means, and having a rear side closed by closure member;

a core element axially extending in said housing having a rear end fixed to said closure member and having a front end extending into the region of the face surface of the housing;

a piston means within said housing slidably mounted on the core element for axial movement;

elongated clamping jaws having first ends linked to a front portion of said piston, and extending in a generally axial direction, said clamping jaws being concentrically arranged around a longitudinal axis of said housing and having free second ends radially displaceable;

ramp means for rocking said clamping jaws about joints between said first ends of said clamping jaws and said front portion of said piston upon an axial movement of said piston;

means for applying pressure to said piston for moving it in said axial direction of said housing thereby pressing said clamping jaws radially inwards by means of a ramp arrangment and axial movement thereof toward said front end of said housing for displacing said free ends of said clamping jaws by an engagement thereof with said ramp means into a radial position permitting a threading provided at said free ends of said clamping jaws to be placed in radial jaxtaposition to a threading of said threaded connecting means;

a spring means biasing said piston against the pressure of said pressure means and moving said piston toward said rear end of said housing upon release of the pressure of said pressure means;

a means for positively engaging said threading of said free ends of said clamping jaws into said threaded connecting means and positively maintaining an engagement of said clamping jaws with said threading of said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

sealing means provided for engagement with said face surface of said front end of said housing and for pressure-tight sealing engagement to said face surface of said threaded connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing.

2. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said spring means is a spiral spring means wound around a rear portion of said piston.

3. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said pressure means is a hand lever pivotally mounted at said housing and acting upon said piston in longitudinal direction of said housing.

4. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said pressure means is a gaseous pressure means connectable to a rear end of said housing and provided with a closure member for selectively applying gaseous pressure against a rear end of said piston.

5. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein front portions of said plug coupling are easily exchangable.

6. The plug coupling of claim 5 wherein a front portion of said housing is in threaded connection to a main body of said housing.

7. The plug coupling of claim 5 wherein said clamping jaws are releaseable connected to said piston.

8. The plug coupling of claim 7 wherein said clamping jaws are in a hooked-in connection to said piston.

9. The plug coupling of claim 7 wherein said clamping jaws are formed as relatively rigid parts with an increased hardness.

10. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided near a front portion with a connecting means for applying a pressurized fluid.

11. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said spring means is arranged between a locking ring supported by an annular rim provided at an inner surface of said housing and a flange formed at a rear end of said piston.

12. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said ramp arrangement is provided between an outer peripheral surface of said clamping jaws and an inner surface of said housing.

13. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said clamping jaws are provided with threadings at the exterior of front parts thereof.

14. The plug coupling of claim 1 wherein said clamping jaws are provided with threading at the interior of front parts thereof.

15. A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with connecting means having a front face surface comprising:

a cylindrical housing provided, at an open front side, with a surface corresponding to that of said connecting means, and having a rear side closed by a closure member;

a piston means slideably mounted on the core element for axial movement within said housing;

a core element axially extending in said housing having a rear end fixed to said closure member and having a front end extending into the region of the face surface of the housing;

elongated clamping jaws having first ends linked to a front portion of said piston, and extending in a generally axial direction, said clamping jaws being concentrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of said housing and having free second ends of said clamping jaws radially displaceable;

ramp means for rocking said clamping jaws about joints between said first ends of said clamping jaws and said front portion of said piston upon an axial movement of said piston;

means for applying pressure to said piston axial movement thereof toward said front end of said housing for displacing said free ends of said clamping jaws by an engagement thereof with said ramp means into a radial position permitting said free ends of said clamping jaws to be placed in radial juxtaposition to said connecting means;

a spring means for moving said piston toward said rear end of said housing upon release of the pressure of said pressure means

a means for positively urging said free ends of said clamping jaws into radial engagement with said connecting means and positively maintaining a radial engagement of said clamping jaws with said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

sealing means provided for engagement with said face surface of said front end of said housing and for pressure-tight sealing engagement to said face surface of said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing.

16. The coupling of claim 15 wherein said housing is provided near a front portion with a connecting means for applying a pressurized fluid.

17. The plug coupling of claim 15 wherein said ramp arrangement is provided between an outer peripheral surface of said clamping jaws and an inner surface of said housing.

19. The plug coupling of claim 15 wherein said clamping jaws are provided with engaging means at the interior of front parts thereof.

20. The plug coupling of claim 15 wherein a front portion of said housing is in threaded connection to a main body of said plug coupling.

18. The plug coupling of claim I5 wherein said clamping jaws are provided with engaging means at the exterior of front parts thereof.

21. A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with connecting means comprising:

a cylindrilcal housing,

a piston shiftable within said housing,

clamping jaws, connected to a front portion of said piston concentrically arranged around longitudinal axis of said housing and having free ends radially displaceable by means of a ramp arrangement upon an axial movement of said piston in an axial direction in said housing,

a hand lever pivotally mounted at said housing and acting upon said piston for moving it in said axial direction of said housing thereby pressing said clamping jaws radially by means of said ramp arrangement;

a spring means biasing said piston against said pressure means; and

a means for moving said free ends of said clamping jaws in an engaging position for engagement with said connecting means.

22. A plug coupling for providing a pressure sealed connection to a device provided with a connecting means having a front face surface comprising:

a cylindrical housing provided, at an open front side, with a surface corresponding to that of said connecting means, and having a rear side closed by a closure member;

a core element axially extending in said housing having a rear end fixed to said closure member and having a front end extending into the region of the face surface of the housing;

a piston means slideably mounted on the core element for axial movement within said housing;

elongated clamping jaws extending from a front portion of said piston, in a generally axial direction, said clamping jaws being concentrically arranged around a longitudinal axis of said housing and having free ends radially displaceable by means of a ramp arrangement upon an axial movement of the piston in;

means for applying pressure to said piston for axial movement thereof toward said front end of said housing for displacing said free ends of said clamping jaws by an engagement thereof with said ramp means into a radial position permitting said free ends of said clamping jaws to be placed in radial juxtaposition to said connecting means;

a spring means for moving said piston toward said rear end of said housing upon release of the pressure of said pressure means;

a means for positively urging said free ends of said clamping into radial engagement with said connecting means and positively maintaining a radial engagement of clamping jaws with said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

sealing means provided for engagement with said face surface of said front end of said housing and for pressure-tight sealing engagement to said face surface of said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

a lateral supply connection at a front part of said housing for supply a pressurized liquid to said connecting means.

23. A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with connecting means having a front face surface comprising:

a cylindrical housing provided, at an open front side, with a surface corresponding to that of said connecting means, and having a rear side closed by a closure member;

a piston means slideably mounted on the core element for axial movement within said housing;

a core element axially extending in said housing having a rear end fixed to said closure member and having a front end extending into the region of the face surface of the housing;

elongated clamping jaws having first ends linked to a front portion of said piston, and extending in a generally axial direction, said clamping jaws being concentrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of said housing and having free second ends of said clamping jaws radially displaceable;

ramp means for rocking said clamping jaws about joints between said first ends of said clamping jaws and said front portion of said piston upon an axial movement of said piston;

means for applying pressure to said piston for axial movement thereof toward said front end of said housing for displacing said free ends of said clamping jaws by an engagement thereof with said ramp means into a radial position permitting said free ends of said clamping jaws to be placed in radial juxtaposition to said connecting means;

a means for moving said piston toward said rear end of said housing upon release of the pressure of pressure means;

a means for positively urging said free ends of said clamping jaws into radial engagement with said connecting means and positively maintaining a radial engagement of said clamping jaws with said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

sealing means provided for engagement with said face surface of said front end of said housing and for pressure-tight sealing engagement to said face surface of said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing;

said clamping jaws being hooked-in with their rear ends in a peripheral recess of said piston.

24. A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with connecting means having a front face surface comprising;

a cylindrical housing provided, at an open front side, with a surface corresponding to that of said connecting means, and having a rear side closed by a closure member;

a piston means slideably mounted on the core element for axial movement within said housing;

a core element axially extending in said housing having a rear end fixed to said closure member and having a front end extending into the region of the face surface of the housing;

elongated clamping jaws having first ends linked to a front portion of said piston, and extending in a generally axial direction, said clamping jaws being concentrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of said housing and having free second ends of clamping jaws radially displaceable.,

ramp means for rocking said clamping jaws about joints between said first ends of said clamping jaws and said front portion of said piston upon an axial movement of said piston;

means for applying pressure to said piston for axial movement thereof toward said front end of said housing for displacing said free ends of said clamping jaws by an engagement thereof with said ramp means into a radial position permitting said free ends of said clamping jaws to be placed in radial juxtaposition to said connecting means;

a means for moving said piston toward said rear end of said housing upon release of the pressure of pressure means;

a means for positively urging said free ends of said clamping into radial engagement with said connecting means and positively maintaining a radial engagement of said clamping jaws with said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

sealing means provided for engagement with said face surface of said front end of said housing and for pressure-tight sealing engagement to said face surface of said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing

said clamping jaws being formed as segments and are provided with radially inward projected flanges engaging an annular recess formed on an outer surface of said piston.

25. A plug coupling for providing a pressure-sealed connection to a device provided with connecting means having a front face surface comprising:

a cylindrical housing provided, at an open front side, with a surface corresponding to that of said connecting means, and having a rear side closed by a closure member;

a piston means slideably mounted on the core element for axial movement within said housing;

a core element axially extending in said housing having a rear end fixed to said closure member and having a front end extending into the region of the face surface of the housing;

elongated clamping jaws having first ends linked to a front portion of said piston, and extending in a generally axial direction, said clamping jaws being concentrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of said housing and having free second ends of said clamping jaws radially displaceable;

ramp means for rocking said clamping jaws about joints between said first ends of said clamping jaws and said front portion of said piston upon an axial movement of said piston;

means for applying pressure to said piston for axial movement thereof toward said front end of said housing for displacing said free ends of said clamping jaws by an engagement thereof with said ramp means into a radial position permitting said free ends of said clamping jaws to be placed in radial juxtaposition to said connecting means;

a means for moving said piston toward said rear end of said housing upon release of the pressure of pressure means;

a means for positively urging said free ends of said clamping jaws into radial engagement with said connecting means and positively maintaining a radial engagement of said clamping jaws with said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing; and

sealing means provided for engagement with said face surface of said front end of said housing and for pressure-tight sealing engagement to said face surface of said connecting means upon movement of said piston toward said rear end of said housing;

said clamping jaws being exchangeable by clamping jaws of different shape.