Quick-fitting coupling

• US 6,533,327 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeroquip-Vickers International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Aeroquip-Vickers International GmbH
• Inventors: Luft, Thomas, Twardawski, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/552,077
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 277/611, 277/638, 277/640, 277/619, 285/95, 285/110, 285/111, 285/305, 285/321
• US Class Current: 285/110
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/0887 the sealing effect being obtained by elastic deformation of the packing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0887 with an axially movable separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/14 Joints secured by inserting between mating surfaces an element, e.g. a piece of wire, a pin, a chain

Abstract

A quick-fitting pipe union is proposed with an insertion component, a socket component and at least one sealing element. The sealing element (7) excels by virtue of the feature that it comprises a connecting section (9) and two lips (11) that extend outward from the connecting section (9).

Claims

1. A fluid coupling comprising

(a) an insertion component extending along an axis, said insertion component including a front region, a first oblique region extending outwardly away from said axis in a direction away from said front region and a second oblique region extending inwardly toward said axis in a direction away from said front region;

(b) a socket component sized to receive said insertion component; and

(c) a resilient wall metallic annular seal having a configuration defining, in cross-section, (i) a first lip sealingly engageable with said socket component, (ii) a second lip sealingly engageable with said insertion component first oblique region and (iii) a connecting section connecting said first lip to said second lip, said connecting section yieldingly supporting said first lip and said second lip for movement from a first spaced apart position when said insertion component is disengaged from said socket component to a second spaced apart position closer together when said insertion component is engaged to said socket component, movement of said insertion component into said socket component causing said second lip to engage and slide relative to said first oblique region and to become sealingly engaged to said insertion component.

2. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the feature that the connecting section (9), in cross-section, defines an essentially circular arc when the insertion component (3) is not engaged to said-socket component (5).

3. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the feature that said circular arc defines a central angle α

of 200°

to 360°

when said insertion component (3) is not engaged to said socket component (4).

4. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the feature that, prior to movement of said insertion component into said socket component, at least one of the lips is bent.

5. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the feature that, said annular seal is a springy metal being a member selected from the group consisting of steel, brass, copper, aluminum and bronze.

6. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 1, wherein said socket component has an insertion end for receiving said insertion component and an annular groove spaced from said insertion end and said insertion component has a portion of said first oblique region axially aligned with said annular groove when said insertion component is engaged to said socket component and characterized by the feature that said annular seal first lip supports itself in said groove in sealing engagement with said socket component and said second lip supports itself on said first oblique region in sealing engagement with said first oblique region.

7. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 6, whereby said socket component has a recess between said insertion end and said annular groove and further including a retaining element supported in said recess and on said second oblique region.

8. A fluid coupling in accordance with claim 7, whereby said socket component recess has an abutment surface tapering outwardly away from said axis in a direction away from said insertion end, characterized by the feature that said retaining element supports itself on said abutment surface and on said second oblique region.

9. A pipe union assembly comprising

(a) a male insertion component having

(i) a front section extending along an axis;

(ii) a first oblique region extending rearwardly from said front section and tapering outwardly away from said axis;

(iii) a second oblique region extending rearwardly beyond said first oblique region and tapering inwardly toward said axis;

(b) a socket component sized to receive said male component, said socket component including a receiving end, an inwardly facing annular recess spaced axially said from said receiving end in a position to overlie said second oblique region when said male insertion component is fully engaged in said socket component, an inwardly facing annular groove spaced axially from said receiving end beyond said annular recess, said annular groove having a bottom;

(c) a retaining element receivable in said annular recess and engageable with said second oblique region for retaining said male insertion component engaged to said socket component; and

(d) an annular metallic sealing element positioned in said annular groove, said annular sealing element in cross-section having first and second resilient lips joined together at a connecting section, said resilient lips being deformable for movement of one toward the other upon axial movement of said male insertion component into said socket component, said first resilient lip sealingly contacting said groove bottom and said second resilient lip being urged closer to said first resilient lip by said first oblique region and becoming sealingly engaged to said first oblique region.

10. A pipe union assembly according to claim 9 wherein said sealing element connecting section is resilient.

11. A pipe union assembly according to claim 9 wherein upon axial movement of said male insertion component into said socket component with said sealing element sealingly engaged to (i) said male insertion component and (ii) said socket component, said pipe union assembly encloses pressurized fluid, said pressurized fluid being communication with said annular sealing element urging said first resilient lip into engagement with said groove bottom and said second resilient lip into engagement with said first oblique region.