Female element of a connection and quick connection incorporating such an element

• US 6,626,465 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Staubli Faverges (Stã¤Ubli Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Staubli Faverges (Stã¤Ubli Holding AG)
• Inventors: Chappaz, René, Lacroix, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US10/025,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 285/80, 285/81, 285/307, 285/308, 285/317, 285/313, 285/82, 701/79, 702/07, 702/10
• US Class Current: 285/80
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0841 by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube

Abstract

A female element of a quick connection for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid passes wherein the element includes a body defining a housing for receiving a portion of a male endpiece. A retaining device is operable to selectively retain the endpiece in fitted configuration in the female element and includes a push-button which carries a lock for selectively locking the endpiece in the housing or for preventing the introduction of the endpiece in the housing.

Claims

1. A female element of a quick connect coupling for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid passes, said element comprising;

a body defining a housing for receiving an endpiece of a male element, retaining means for retaining the endpiece in fitted configuration in said female element, said retaining means being controlled by a push button movable with respect to said body in a direction of displacement which is substantially radial with respect to a longitudinal axis of said female element from a first position wherein said retaining means retains the endpiece within said housing to a second position wherein said retaining means is moved to permit release of the endpiece from said housing, and lock means carried by said push button for selectively preventing said push button from moving to said second position when the endpiece is inserted within said housing and retained by said retaining means.

2. The female element of claim 1, wherein said push button forms a housing for receiving a portion of the endpiece;

said retaining means being formed with said push button and being in a form of at least one inner element in relief which is adapted to cooperate with at least one outer element in relief of the endpiece for retaining said endpiece in fitted configuration in said female element.

3. The female element of claim 2, including resilient means for urging said push button towards said first position.

4. The female element of claim 1, wherein said lock means is carried by said push button and is equipped with a lock bolt.

5. The female element of claim 4, wherein said bolt is movable from a first position wherein the endpiece may be inserted and withdrawn from said housing to a second position by being extended in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of said push button with respect to said body, said bolt being adapted, when in the second position thereof, to exert on a male endpiece a force on the endpiece when the endpiece is positioned within said housing to thereby prevent said retaining means from being movable to said second position thereof.

6. The female element of claim 5, wherein said push button defines a housing in which the endpiece may be introduced, and said bolt being adapted to prevent introduction of the endpiece in said housing of said push button and said housing of said body when said bolt is in said second position thereof.

7. The female element of claim 4, wherein said bolt is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said push button with respect to said body, between a first position spaced from said body and a second position abutting against said body, thereby preventing a displacement of said push button in said direction of displacement.

8. The female element for claim 4, wherein said lock means is a cylinder lock integrated in said push button and provided with means for obturating a keyhole in said cylinder lock.

9. Quick connection for removably joining two pipes, comprising;

a male element and a female element, said female element including a body defining a housing for receiving an endpiece of said element, retaining means for retaining the endpiece in fitted configuration in said female element, said retaining means being controlled by a push button movable with respect to said body in a direction of displacement which is substantially radial with respect to a longitudinal axis of said female element from a first position wherein said retaining means retains the endpiece within said housing to a second position wherein said retaining means is moved to permit release of the endpiece from said housing, and lock means carried by said push button for selectively preventing said push button from moving to said second portion.

10. A female element of a quick connect coupling for removably joining two pipes through which a fluid passes, said element comprising;

a body defining a housing for selectively receiving an endpiece of a male element, retaining means for retaining the endpiece in fitted configuration in said female element when said male element is inserted within said housing, said retaining means being controlled by a push button movable with respect to the said body in a direction of displacement which is substantially radial with respect to a longitudinal axis of said female element from a first position wherein said retaining means is adapted to retain the endpiece within said housing to a second position wherein said retaining means is adapted to be moved to permit release of the endpiece from said housing, and lock means carried by said push button including a selectively extendable member which, when extended, blocks an insertion of the endpiece within said housing thereby preventing a connection between said male element and said female element.