One-piece coupler for connecting hoses

• US 5,788,289 A
• Filed: 09/08/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cronley, Gerald
• Original Assignee: Cronley, Gerald
• Inventors: Cronley, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US08/525,200
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 285/100, 285/101, 285/102, 285/322, 285/323, 285/375, 137/218, 137/533.17, 137/543.19
• US Class Current: 285/102
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/105 the rotating sleeve having on its inner surface several axially spaced and circumferentially discontinuous threads which engage with the threads on the male part which are also spaced axially and circumferentially discontinuous
• 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: Y10T 137/7913 Guided head

Abstract

A hose-coupler made up of a just one component having a main housing section with a female end and a male end. The second female end of the coupler is formed with interior threads, for receiving therein a portion of the male end of the second hose. The main housing section has a compressible portion adjacent to the first male end thereof all the way to the end of the female end. In order to compress the clamping jaws, there is provided a slidable outer housing. The male end is sealed in the female end of the coupler by a biased piston-member that forces a sealing washer against the male end by means of the pressurized fluid volume in the interior of the coupler. Two embodiments are disclosed: A first one that allows the coupler to be disconnected from the male end of a hose only after the water pressure has been turned off; and a second embodiment that allows the coupler to be disconnected from the male end of a hose also while the water pressure is still present. In the second embodiment, a check valve prevents the back-flow of back-pressurized fluid through the coupler after the coupler has been disconnected from a male end of a component.

Claims

1. A coupler for connection to a hose or tube, comprising:

a hollow, clamping jaw-member having a first female-end portion for connection to a male end of a hose or tube, said clamping jaw-member being contractile for gripping a male end, said jaw-member having a second end-portion spaced from said first female-end portion;

an outer housing mounted telescopingly about, and slidably mounted to, said clamping jaw-member, said outer housing comprising a first end-section operatively associated with said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member, and a second end-section spaced from said first end-section, said first end-section comprising means for contracting said female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member to cause said female-end portion to clamp a male end positioned therein;

a seal-loading piston-member at least partially mounted telescopingly and slidingly in said clamping jaw-member, said piston member having a first end associated with said female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member for urging a fluid-sealing member against a juxtapositioned male end positioned in said female-end portion;

said piston-member having a second end spaced from said first end;

first fluid-sealing means operatively mounted to said first end of said piston-member for sealing a male end of a hose or tube to said first end of said piston member;

biassing means for urging said first end of said piston-member toward said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member;

means for mounting said outer housing for slidable movement relative to said jaw-member; and

second sealing means for sealing said piston-member in said housing;

said means for mounting said outer housing for slidable movement relative to said jaw-member comprises a male-end member intermediate said piston member and said second end portion of said jaw member for connection to a female end of another component;

said outer housing being fixedly connected to said male-end member;

said male-end member being connected to said outer housing at said second end-section of said outer housing.

2. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said outer housing for slidable movement relative to said jaw-member comprises an annular flange surrounding a section of said clamping jaw-member, and additional biassing means mounted between said annular flange and said second end-section of said outer housing, said additional biassing means biassing said outer housing toward said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member.

3. The coupler according to claim 2, further comprising a valve means mounted in said male-end member, said valve means preventing water from back-pressure to pass through said male-end member after said first female-end portion is disconnected from a male-end of a hose or tube.

4. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein each of said piston-member, said outer housing, and said jaw-member is tubular with a hollow interior for the passage of fluid therethrough.

5. A coupler for connection to a hose or tube, comprising:

a hollow, clamping jaw-member having a first female-end portion for connection to a male end of a hose or tube, said clamping jaw-member being contractile for gripping a male end, said jaw-member having a second end-portion spaced from said first female-end portion;

pressurized water entering into said coupler via a male end connected to said first female-end portion of said jaw-member;

an outer housing mounted telescopingly about said clamping jaw-member, said outer housing comprising a first end-section operatively associated with said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member, and a second end-section spaced from said first end-section, said first end-section comprising means for contracting said female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member to cause said female-end portion to clamp a male end positioned therein;

means for mounting said outer housing for movement relative to said hollow, clamping jaw-member;

a seal-loading piston-member at least partially mounted telescopingly and slidingly in said clamping jaw-member, said piston member having a first end associated with said female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member for urging a fluid-sealing means against a juxtapositioned male end positioned in said female-end portion;

said piston-member having a second end spaced from said first end;

fluid-sealing means operatively mounted to said first end of said piston-member for sealing a male end of a hose or tube to said first end of said piston member;

biassing means for urging said first end of said piston-member toward said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member;

a tubular end-member;

said tubular end-member being connected to said outer housing said piston-member having at least one outer, annular flange slidable within said end-member;

said piston-member and said end-member defining an annular volume between said annular flange and said end-member in which pressurized fluid may be present; and

sealing means for fluidly sealing said piston-member within said end-member, said sealing means being located in said annular volume, whereby said piston-member is urged toward said first female-end portion of said jaw-member by the pressurized fluid in said annular volume, so that said fluid-sealing means mounted by said first end of said piston-member is forced against a male end of hose or tube positioned in said first female-end portion of said jaw-member.

6. A coupler for connection to a hose or tube, comprising:

a hollow, clamping jaw-member having a first female-end portion for connection to a male end of a hose or tube, said clamping jaw-member being contractile for gripping a male end, said jaw-member having a second end-portion spaced from said first female-end portion;

an outer housing mounted telescopingly about said clamping jaw-member, said outer housing comprising a first end-section operatively associated with said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member, and a second end-section spaced from said first end-section, said first end-section comprising means for contracting said female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member to cause said female-end portion to clamp a male end positioned therein;

means for mounting said outer housing for movement relative to said hollow, clamping jaw-member;

a seal-loading piston-member at least partially mounted telescopingly and slidingly in said clamping jaw-member, said piston member having a first end associated with said female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member for urging a water-sealing member against a juxtapositioned male end positioned in said female-end portion;

said piston-member having a second end spaced from said first end;

first water-sealing means operatively mounted to said first end of said piston-member for sealing a male end of a hose or tube to said first end of said piston member;

biassing means for urging said first end of said piston-member toward said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member;

second water-sealing means for sealing said piston-member in said housing;

an end-member, said end-member being connected to said outer housing intermediate said piston member and said second of said jaw member;

and water valve means mounted in said end-member, said valve means preventing water to pass through said end-member after said first female-end portion is disconnected from a male end of a hose or tube.

7. The coupler according to claim 6, wherein said means for mounting said outer housing for slidable movement relative to said jaw-member comprises an annular flange surrounding a section of said clamping jaw-member, and additional biassing means mounted between said annular flange and said second end-section of said outer housing, said additional biassing means biassing said outer housing toward said first female-end portion of said clamping jaw-member.

8. The coupler according to claim 6, wherein said tubular end-member comprises a male-end sleeve for coupling to a female end of a component.

9. The coupler according to claim 6, wherein said end-member comprises a portion of one of a:

sprinkler, hand-nozzle, and water-tap.

10. A method of preventing backflow of water in a water coupler for connection to a hose or tube, which water coupler comprises a main housing having a first end-section comprising one of a female-end portion and male-end portion for connection to an end of a hose or tube through which pressurized water enters into said coupler, and a second end-section comprising one of a second female-end-portion and male-end portion through which the water exits;

and water valve means operatively associated with said second-end-section of said housing, said valve means preventing water from passing through said second end-section of said housing after said first female-end portion is disconnected from a male end of a hose or tube, the method comprising;

(a) connecting said first end-section to an end of a first tubular component;

(b) connecting said second end-section to an end of a second tubular component;

(c) delivering water through said first component, then through said water coupler, and then through said second component;

(d) disconnecting said first component from said first end-section of said coupler; and

(e) said step (d) moving said valve means into its closed position, whereby water from said second component is prevented from flowing backwards through said coupler.