Detachable rapid-action coupling device

• US 6,318,764 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Original Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Inventors: Trede, Michael, Letort, David, Moretti, Erminio
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US09/424,828
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 285/305, 285/308, 285/319, 285/321, 285/924
• US Class Current: 285/305
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0841 by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/098 by means of flexible hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/144 the securing element being U-shaped

Abstract

The invention relates to a detachable rapid-action coupling device designed to receive a tubular plug-in element (3) having a circular retaining rib (4). Said device comprises a receiving housing (1) having a cylindrical receiving space (6) for introducing the plug-in element (3) and a separate retaining element (2) made of hard-elastic plastic material and having elastically expandable retaining edges (17) facing inwards in the shape of an arc of a circle, which edges serve to engage the retaining rib (4) from behind after the plug-in element (3) has been introduced. The retaining element (2) can be pushed in from the outside in an opening (11) of the housing wall (5) to release the plug-in element (3). The receiving space (6) consists of three stepped sections. The housing (1) is embodied as a two-part structure. In order to move the opening (11) for pushing in and releasing the retaining element (2) into a better position, if necessary, when only limited space is available. The head part (8) can be connected to the base body (16) in an axial direction and has a centering bush (19) at the plug-in side.

Claims

1. Detachable rapid-action coupling device for receiving a tubular plug-in element (3) with a circumferential retaining rib (4), consisting of a receptacle housing (1) with a tubular connecting piece (7) that is connected to a fluid line and a cylindrical receptacle space (6) for inserting the plug-in element (3), and of a separate retaining element (2) of a hard-elastic plastic material with inwardly directed elastic retaining edges (17) that have the form of an arc of a circle and engage behind the retaining rib (4) after insertion of the plug-in element (3), with the retaining element (2) being inserted into the receptacle space (6) through an opening (11) in the cylindrical housing wall (5) of the receptacle housing (1) and fixed axially to the housing wall (5) by means of the retaining edges (17), with the retaining element being able to be pressed inwardly from the outside within the opening region (11) of the housing wall (5) in order to disengage the plug-in element (3), and with the receptacle space (6) consisting of three stepped sections, the first, inner section (6′

) of which has an inside diameter (d1) that corresponds to the outside diameter (D1) of the plug-in element (3), the second, central section (6″

) of which is arranged outwardly adjacent to the first, inner section and serves for accommodating at least one annular seal (9) for the plug-in element (3), and the third, front section (6′

″

) of which has an inside diameter (d3) within the inlet region which corresponds to the outside diameter (D3) of the retaining rib (4), characterized by the fact that the housing (1) is realized in the form of a two-part component, with a head part (8, 30) that contains the front section (6′

″

) being able to be axially plugged together with a base body (16, 31) and thereby connected thereto, with the head part containing a centering ring (19) on the plug-in side, the end surface (20) of which simultaneously serves as an end part for the central section (6″

), and with the connection being produced by means of locking elements (23/24) and (27/28), respectively, such that the head part (8, 30) is rotatably held on the outer wall (22) of the base body (16, 31).

2. Detachable rapid-action coupling device according to claim 1, with an outer sleeve (21) that is pushed over the outer wall (22) of the base body (16) when the head part (8) is connected to the base body, which is integrally formed onto the head part (8) concentrically with the centering ring (19), characterized by the fact that the inner side of the head part (8) is provided with a locking groove (23) that can be engaged with a circumferential locking edge (24) that is integrally formed onto the outer wall (22) of the base body (16).

3. Detachable rapid-action coupling device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the locking groove (23) contains several openings (25) that are uniformly distributed over the circumference and open toward the outside.

4. Detachable rapid-action coupling device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a locking sleeve (26) is integrally formed onto the centering ring (19) of the head part (30), with the free end of said locking sleeve containing an outwardly protruding bead (27) that can be engaged with a correspondingly wide and deep groove (28) in the outer wall (22) of the base body (31) at the beginning of the central section (6″

).

5. Detachable rapid action coupling device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the locking sleeve (25) is interrupted by several slots (29) that are distributed over the circumference and, starting at the end surface (20), extend over the entire length of the locking sleeve.