Coupling part comprising pressure-reducing means

• US 5,159,955 A
• Filed: 01/17/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dart Engineering AG
• Original Assignee: Dart Engineering AG
• Inventors: Ekman, Thure
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, John C.
• Application Number:
  US07/642,646
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.04, 137/614, 137/614.03
• US Class Current: 137/614.03
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• 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 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both

Abstract

A coupling part constituting the male or female part in a quick coupling comprises an inner, longitudinally displaceable unit positioned in an outer part of the coupling part the inner unit being adapted in a deactivated position thereof to confine the media pressure in a first chamber arranged in the outer part of the coupling part and in an actuated position to open or keep open an access for media to a second chamber in the outer part. Pressure-reducing members actuable upon coupling together of the male and female parts and allowing for the coupling even at high media pressures, and including a lead-off channel for media pressure and a shut-off element positioned in the channel, and actuable by the end face of the other coupling part through an actuation member. The actuation member is sealed-off or positioned in the coupling part in order to prevent lead-off media from reaching the end face of the coupling part. The lead-off channel on both side of the shut-off element is connectable to the first and the second chambers and upon actuation of the pressure-reducing member, the first and second chambers communicate through lateral connections in the inner unit the lead-off channel and the opened shut-off element whereby accompanying decompression of the pressure in the first chamber facilitates the longitudinal displacement of the inner unit, as a result of which it is possible to obtain leakage-free connection of the coupling parts in the presence of any media pressure.

Claims

1. In a coupling apparatus for quick coupling including a first and a second coupling part adapted to be coupled together, said first coupling part comprising:

an outer, tubular part, said outer part defining a first and a second chamber positioned in the longitudinal direction of said outer part adjacent to a front portion extending a distance from a face surface of said outer part;

an inner longitudinally displaceable unit positioned inside said outer part and movable between a deactivated starting position and a fully activated position in which said first and second coupling part are fully coupled, said inner longitudinally displaceable part being activated into said activated position by said second coupling part;

said inner displaceable unit having pressure reducing means including a lead-off channel means for media pressure, a shut off element positioned in said channel means and an actuation member for actuation of said shut-off element, said lead-off channel means being connectable on each side of said shut-off element to said first and second chamber;

first sealing means being provided on said inner unit for ensuring sealing between said first and second chamber, said first sealing means including said shut-off element; and

second sealing means for sealing said actuation member in said lead-off channel to prevent leakage of media to said end face of said inner unit and said first coupling part;

wherein in said deactivated position of said inner unit said first sealing means is adapted to confine said media pressure in said first chamber and in said activated position of said inner unit said shut-off element is adapted to open and said channel means connected on each side of said shut-off element allowing for releasing media pressure from said first chamber into said second chamber facilitating coupling of said first and second coupling parts even at high pressure.

2. A coupling part according to claim 1, wherein both the male part and female part comprise pressure-reducing members.

3. A coupling part according to claim 1, wherein said inner longitudinally displaceable unit is displaceable counter to the action of a spring which returns said inner unit to its deactivated position upon uncoupling of the male and female parts, and wherein, when the inner unit assumes its deactivated, starting position, the media connection to the pressure-reducing channel is broken.

4. A coupling part according to claim 1, wherein said connection between the lead-off and the first chamber leads through recesses, which can be positioned opposite each other, in the first and second components of said inner unit, and wherein said first and second components are positioned opposite each other when said second component assumes the fully connected position with respect to said first component.

5. A coupling part according to claim 1, wherein said lead-off channel means is connected on each side of said shut-off element to said first and second chambers.

7. A coupling part according to claim 5, wherein said actuation member is extendable from the end face of the coupling part of inner unit inwardly into said channel and is longitudinally displaceable in a first channel part, said actuation member having a first section extendable from the end face in order to be acted upon by said other coupling part during coupling together of the coupling parts of the quick coupling, and wherein at least one sealing member is arranged to seal off said first section of the actuation member with respect to said channel of said inner unit so that the lead-off media in the channel is prevented from reaching the end face.

8. A coupling part according to claim 5, wherein said channel is located in a bushing unit which is positioned in a recess in said inner unit, said busing unit comprising a second channel part which is designed to allow for the longitudinal displacement movements of the actuation member with a flange member provided thereon, and wherein said busing unit has at least one lateral recess which can be aligned with corresponding recess in said inner unit in order to form at least one connection between the channel means and the second chamber in the coupling part when the coupling parts of the quick coupling assume a coupling position in which said pressure-reducing means can be activated, said connection being situated at the side of said shut-off element closer to said and face.

9. A coupling part according to claim 8, wherein at least one sealing member is situated at the side of the second channel part closer to said end face, in an annular chamber allocated to the sealing member, said sealing member comprising an annular seal and a packing seal and wherein said busing unit has step-shaped internal recesses for that section of the actuation member which is extendable outside the end face, for the sealing member.

10. A coupling part according to claim 8, wherein said bushing unit bears against or comprises a seat-supporting part whose seat cooperates with a spherical body forming part of said shut-off element, which, at its first side, can be acted upon by the a second section of said actuation member which second section extends through the seat-supporting part, and at its other side can be acted upon by a spring member arranged in a third channel part situated behind the shut-off element, and wherein at least one second connection in the inner unit is provided to the second chamber when the pressure-reducing means is actuated.

11. A coupling part according to claim 5, wherein said inner longitudinally displaceable unit comprises two telescopically arranged components which can be longitudinally displaceable relative to each other, wherein a first longitudinally displaceable component maintains the starting position and actuation position of the inner unit through a spring force acting thereupon and a possible media pressure, and wherein a second component effects a sealing, opening and shutting function at the end of the coupling part and comprises said pressure-reducing means.

12. A coupling part according to claim 11, wherein, during the coupling together of the male and female coupling parts, said first component of said inner unit first assumes its starting position in which the first and second chamber are separated by means of said first sealing means effected by said first component of said inner unit, such that the high media pressure is present in said first chamber and wherein said connection between the first and second chambers is established through said lead-off channel means, opened shut-off element and said first and second connections from said chambers, through said inner unit to said lead-off channel on both sides of the shut-off element, when the male and female parts, after continued coupling together, reach a position in which said second component is fully inserted in said first component of said inner unit and the pressure-reducing means is actuated.

13. A coupling part according to claim 11, wherein said inner longitudinally displaceable unit comprises two telescopically arranged components which can be longitudinally displaceable relative to each other, wherein a first longitudinally displaceable component maintains the starting position and actuation position of the inner unit through a spring force and a possible media pressure, and wherein a second component effects a sealing, opening and shutting function at the end of the coupling part and comprises said pressure-reducing means.

14. A coupling part according to claim 5, wherein said connection between said lead-off channel and said first chamber leads through recesses, which can be positioned opposite each other, in the first and second components of said inner unit, and wherein said first and second components are positioned opposite each other when said second component assumes the fully connected position with respect to said first component.

15. A coupling part according to claim 5, wherein both the male part and female part comprise pressure-reducing members.

16. A coupling part according to claim 5, wherein said inner longitudinally displaceable unit is displaceable counter to the action of a spring which returns said inner unit to its deactivated position upon uncoupling of the male and female parts, and wherein, when the inner unit assumes its deactivated, starting position, the media connection to the pressure-reducing channel is broken.

6. A coupling part constituting the male or female part in a quick coupling and compressing:

an inner, longitudinally displaceable unit positioned in an outer part of said coupling part, said inner unit being adapted in a starting, deactivated position thereof to confine the media pressure in a first chamber arranged in said outer part of the coupling part and in an actuated position said inner unit being adapted to open or keep open an access for media to a second chamber in said outer part of the coupling part;

pressure-reducing means actuable upon coupling together of the male and female parts and allowing for said coupling together even at high media pressures, said pressure-reducing means comprising a lead-off channel for media pressure and a shut-off element positioned in said channel, said shut-off element being actuable by the end face of the other coupling part in said coupling through an actuation member which also constitutes a part of said pressure-reducing means, said actuation member being designed sealed-off or positioned in said coupling part in order to prevent lead-off media from reaching the end face of the coupling part;

wherein said lead-off channel on both sides of said shut-off element is connectable to said first and said second chambers and wherein, upon actuation of the pressure-reducing means, said first and said second chambers form two communicating chambers through lateral connections in said inner unit, said lead-off channel and the opened shut-off element wherein accompanying decompression of the pressure in said first chamber facilitates the longitudinal displacement of the inner unit, as a result of which it is possible to obtain leakage-free connection of the coupling parts in the presence of any media pressure.

17. A coupling part according to claim 6, wherein said lead-off channel is connected to said first and second chambers.