Pipe coupling

• US 5,380,049 A
• Filed: 08/19/1992
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Smowton, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US07/930,536
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 285/169, 285/319, 285/921, 285/351, 285/903, 285/113
• US Class Current: 285/148.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/084 combined with automatic locking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/924 Vented

Abstract

A quick fit pipe coupling has two parts with each body part retaining one of the pipes to be connected. The two body parts are screwed together. One pipe is to be push-fitted into the coupling. This pipe has radially extending ridges by which the pipe can be latched in one part of the coupling, and this one part of the coupling also carries the seals which provide the fluid tight seal. When the coupling is dimantled, the seals remain in position and are not disturbed.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling assembly, comprising:

a first and second pipe, said second pipe having a plurality of radially extending ridges at one end thereof;

a first and second body part, said first body part having a first end for connection to said first pipe and a second end for connection to said second body part;

said second body part having a first end for connection to said first body part and a second end forming a socket for receiving said second pipe therein, in a push-in manner;

said first and second body parts having a through bore for the passage of fluid between said first and second pipes;

said first and second body parts molded from plastics materials;

said second body part further comprising a sealing means and latching means for cooperating with said radially extending ridges on said second pipe, said latching means on said second body part comprising integrally-formed, internally-directed ribs which allow said second pipe to be pushed into said socket with said ribs yielding to allow said ridges to pass, but which prevent said second pipe from being pulled out, and said sealing means between said second body part and said second pipe comprising two O-rings seated in an annular recess on said second body part, said sealing means and latching means being arranged relative to one another so that as said second pipe is pushed into said socket, latching occurs between said second body part and said second pipe before sealing occurs between said second body part and said second pipe;

and wherein said second body part is connected with and detachable from the first body part, such that said sealing means remains with said second body part when said second body part is detached from said first body part.

2. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection between the first and second body parts is made by a thread.

3. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thread itself forms a seal between the two body parts.

4. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thread is used to force sealing faces on the two body parts into sealing contact with one another.

5. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second body parts each have an external hexagonal form so that they can be gripped by a spanner to separate the two parts.

6. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal is formed by two O-rings seated in an annular recess in the second body part.

7. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection between the first and second body parts is made by a thread.

8. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second body parts each have an external hexagonal form so that they can be gripped by a spanner to separate the two parts.

9. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second body parts each have an external hexagonal form so that they can be gripped by a spanner to separate the two parts.

10. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second body parts each have an external hexagonal form so that they can be gripped by a spanner to separate the two parts.

11. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second body parts each have an external hexagonal form so that they can be gripped by a spanner to separate the two parts.