Connector system

• US 6,161,579 A
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interlemo Holding S.A. (LemoSA)
• Original Assignee: Interlemo Holding S.A. (LemoSA)
• Inventors: Vulliet, Fran.cedilla.ois
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/474,289
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.05, 137/614.04, 137/614.03
• US Class Current: 137/614.05
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/30 with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/32 at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87965 Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Abstract

The connector system comprises an upstream tubular body (1) capable of being connected to a pressurized-fluid line and in which there is placed a first shutter (18) bearing against a seat (6) under the action of a spring (20) upstream of the shutter. A downstream tubular body (2), that can be plugged into the upstream tubular body (1) and is capable of being connected to a line receiving the pressurized fluid, contains a second shutter (49) bearing against a seat (38) under the action of a spring (51) downstream of this shutter and of spring force equal to or less than that of the spring (20). A push-rod (24) and a tubular wall (25) which are fixed to the first shutter (18) downstream thereof interact with a push-rod (55) fixed to the second shutter (49) upstream thereof and with an upstream edge (57) of the downstream tubular body (2). The upstream tubular body (1) is mounted in a socket (29) provided with a counterbore (31) and with a catching groove (32). The downstream tubular body (2) is housed in a plug (60) capable of being introduced into the counterbore (31) and provided with elastic tabs (63) with teeth (64) for clipping into the catching groove (32). An operating ring (67) that can move along the plug (60) comprises openings (69) forming ramps for withdrawing the clip-in teeth (64) from the catching groove (32).

Claims

1. Connector system for coupling a pressurized-fluid line that accommodates a flow of pressurized fluid to a receiving line for receiving said fluid, comprising an upstream tubular body (1) capable of being connected to the pressurized-fluid line, a downstream tubular body (2) that can be plugged into the upstream tubular body and is capable of being connected to the receiving line, and means (29, 60, 71, 78) for locking the downstream tubular body plugged into the upstream tubular body, characterized by a first shutter (18) housed in the upstream tubular body (1) and bearing against a seat (6) thereof under the action of a first elastic stress (20) upstream of the first shutter, a second shutter (49) housed in the downstream tubular body (2) and bearing against a seat (38) thereof under the action of a second elastic stress, and first bearing means (24, 25) secured to the first shutter (18) interacting with second bearing means (55) secured to the second shutter (49) and third bearing means (57) secured to the downstream tubular body (2), so that when the tubular bodies (1, 2) are connected respectively to the pressurized-fluid line and to the receiving line, and when the downstream tubular body (2) is plugged into the upstream tubular body (1), the second shutter (49) then the first shutter (18) are moved in turn of their respective seats, the second shutter (49) being moved against the action off the second elastic stress (51) and the first shutter (18) being moved against the action of the first elastic stress (20) and of the pressurized fluid, and so that as the downstream tubular body (2) is withdrawn from the upstream tubular body (1), the first shutter (18) then the second shutter (49) are allowed to return in turn against their respective seats, the first shutter (18) under the combined action of the first elastic stress (20) and of the pressurized fluid, and the second shutter (49) under the action of the second elastic stress (51).

2. Connector system according to claim 1, in which the first bearing means comprise a push-rod (24) and a tubular wall (25) fixed to the first shutter (18) downstream thereof, the second bearing means comprise a push-rod (55) fixed to the second shutter (49) upstream thereof and capable of encountering the pushrod (24) fixed to the first shutter (18), and the third bearing means consist of an upstream edge (57) of the downstream tubular body (2) capable of encountering the tubular wall (25) fixed to the first shutter (18), the relative arrangement of these bearing means being such that as the downstream tubular body (2) is plugged into the upstream tubular body (1), the push-rod (55) fixed to the second shutter (49) first of all encounters the push-rod (24) fixed to the first shutter (18), then the upstream edge (57) of the downstream tubular body (2) encounters the tubular wall (25) fixed to the first shutter (18).

3. Connector system according to claim 1, in which the first bearing means comprise a push-rod (24) fixed to the first shutter (18) downstream thereof, the second bearing means comprise a push-rod (55) fixed to the second shutter (49) upstream thereof and capable of encountering the push-rod fixed to the first shutter, and the third bearing means comprise a stop fixed in the downstream tubular body (2) and capable of encountering the second shutter (49) when it is moved off its seat.

4. Connector system according to claim 3, in which the pushrod (24) fixed to the first shutter (18) has a downstream end (26) set back from a downstream edge (58) of the upstream tubular body (1), and the push-rod (55) fixed to the second shutter (49) has an upstream end (56) set back from an upstream edge (57) of the downstream tubular body (2).

5. Connector system according to claim 4, in which an O-ring seal (11) placed in the downstream end (4) of the upstream tubular body (1) interacts with an outer wall of the upstream end (37) of the downstream tubular body (2).

6. Connector system according to claim 5, in which one of the upstream and downstream tubular bodies (1, 2) is fixed into a socket (29, 71) provided with a counterbore (31, 72) surrounding the tubular body (1, 2) and in which a catching groove (32, 73) is formed, the other tubular body (1, 2) is fixed into a plug (60, 78) capable of being introduced into the counterbore (31, 72) and provided with elastic tabs (63, 86) with teeth (64, 87) for clipping into the catching groove, the introduction of the plug into the counterbore of the socket until the teeth clip into the catching groove determining the plugging of the downstream tubular body (2) into the upstream tubular body (1).

7. Connector system according to claim 6, in which the plug (60) comprises bearing means (69) that can be moved in order to stress stressing the elastic tabs (63) against their elasticity.

8. Connector system according to claim 7, in which an operating ring (67) is mounted so that it can move longitudinally along the plug (60), the moving bearing means (69) being connected to this ring (67).

9. Connector system according to claim 6, in which an operating ring (84) is mounted so that it can move longitudinally along the plug (78), the elastic tabs (86) being connected to this ring (84).

10. Connector system according to claim 9, in which ramps (81) secured to the plug (78) force the clip-in teeth (87) of the elastic tabs (86) into the catching groove (73) in the socket (71).

11. Connector system according to claim 2, in which the push-rod (24) fixed to the first shutter (18) has a downstream end (26) set back from a downstream edge (58) of the upstream tubular body (1), and the push-rod (55) fixed to the second shutter (49) has an upstream end (56) set back from an upstream edge (57) of the downstream tubular body (2).

12. Connector system according to claim 11, in which an O-ring seal (11) placed in the downstream end (4) of the upstream tubular body (1) interacts with an outer wall of the upstream end (37) of the downstream tubular body (2).

13. Connector system according to claim 12, in which one of the upstream and downstream tubular bodies (1, 2) is fixed into a socket (29, 71) provided with a counterbore (31, 72) surrounding the tubular body (1, 2) and in which a catching groove (32, 73) is formed, the other tubular body (1, 2) is fixed into a plug (60, 78) capable of being introduced into the counterbore (31, 72) and provided with elastic tabs (63, 86) with teeth (64, 87) for clipping into the catching groove, the introduction of the plug into the counterbore of the socket until the teeth clip into the catching groove determining the plugging of the downstream tubular body (2) into the upstream tubular body (1).

14. Connector system according to claim 1, in which an O-ring seal (11) placed in the downstream end (4) of the upstream tubular body (1) interacts with an outer wall of the upstream end (37) of the downstream tubular body (2).

15. Connector system according to claim 1, in which one of the upstream and downstream tubular bodies (1, 2) is fixed into a socket (29, 71) provided with a counterbore (31, 72) surrounding the tubular body (1, 2) and in which a catching groove (32, 73) is formed, the other tubular body (1, 2) is fixed into a plug (60, 78) capable of being introduced into the counterbore (31, 72) and provided with elastic tabs (63, 86) with teeth (64, 87) for clipping into the catching groove, the introduction of the plug into the counterbore of the socket until the teeth clip into the catching groove determining the plugging of the downstream tubular body (2) into the upstream tubular body (1).