Female and male couplers of pipe coupling

• US 6,886,803 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamashita, Jin, Mikiya, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/857,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20040238048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.04, 137/614.03, 137/614.05, 137/614, 251/149.1, 251/149.6
• US Class Current: 251/149.1
• 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 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87957 Valves actuate each other

Abstract

A female coupler and a male coupler of a pipe coupling that are easy to assemble and have a minimized passage resistance are provided. The female coupler includes a cylindrical female coupler body adapted to receive the male coupler from a front end opening thereof. A pipe connection adapter has a cylindrical connecting portion that is inserted into the female coupler body from a rear end opening thereof, and is thus connected to the female coupler body. The pipe connection adapter has two support legs extending from the front end surface of the cylindrical connecting portion. A valve support ring is secured to the distal ends of the support legs. The valve support ring has an outer circumferential surface that has a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical connecting portion, whereby a fluid passage is defined between the outer circumferential surface of the support ring and the wall surface of the through-hole of the female coupler body. The support legs are connected to the valve support ring at the rear end surface thereof. The male coupler has an arrangement similar to the above.

Claims

1. A female coupler for connection to a male coupler to form a pipe coupling, said female coupler comprising:

a cylindrical female coupler body having a front end opening, a rear end opening, and a through-hole extending between said front end opening and said rear end opening, said female coupler body being adapted to receive said male coupler from said front end opening for connection of said male coupler thereto;

a pipe connection adapter having a cylindrical connecting portion that is inserted into said female coupler body from said rear end opening and is thus connected to said female coupler body; and

a valve element set in said through-hole of said female coupler body at a position forward of said cylindrical connecting portion to enable said through-hole to be opened or closed;

said pipe connection adapter having;

a support leg extending from a front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion axially forward of said cylindrical connecting portion; and

a valve support ring secured to a front end of said support leg;

said valve support ring having;

a front end surface facing a valve head of said valve element set at a position axially forward of said valve support ring;

a rear end surface facing axially rearward of said valve support ring;

an outer circumferential surface having a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of said cylindrical connecting portion and defining a fluid passage between said circumferential surface and a wall surface of said through-hole of said female coupler body; and

an inner circumferential surface slidably receiving a valve guide rod extending from said valve head axially rearward of said female coupler body;

wherein said support leg is connected to said valve support ring at said rear end surface.

2. A female coupler according to claim 1, wherein said support leg has:

an axial portion extending from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion in parallel to a center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion; and

a radial portion extending from a front end of said axial portion radially inward either at right angles or obliquely forward as far as said rear end surface of said valve support ring and secured to said rear end surface.

3. A female coupler according to claim 1, wherein there are provided two of said support legs that extend from respective positions on said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion, said two support legs being secured to the rear end surface of said valve support ring at respective positions that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion.

4. A female coupler according to claim 2, wherein there are provided two of said support legs that extend from respective positions on said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion, said two support legs being secured to the rear end surface of said valve support ring at respective positions that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion.

5. A female coupler according to claim 1, wherein said female coupler body has:

an adapter receiving portion that extends from said rear end opening of said female coupler body toward a front end thereof to receive said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter and said valve head positioned forward of the front end of said cylindrical connecting portion, said adapter receiving portion having a uniform inner diameter over its entire length;

an annular valve seat formed at a front end of said adapter receiving portion, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head; and

a male coupler receiving portion that communicates with said adapter receiving portion through said valve seat and extends as far as a front end of said cylindrical female coupler body;

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said adapter receiving portion, and

said support leg extends from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact with an inner peripheral surface of said adapter receiving portion.

6. A female coupler according to claim 2, wherein said female coupler body has:

an adapter receiving portion that extends from said rear end opening of said female coupler body toward a front end thereof to receive said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter and said valve head positioned forward of the front end of said cylindrical connecting portion, said adapter receiving portion having a uniform inner diameter over its entire length;

an annular valve seat formed at a front end of said adapter receiving portion, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head; and

a male coupler receiving portion that communicates with said adapter receiving portion through said valve seat and extends as far as a front end of said cylindrical female coupler body;

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said adapter receiving portion, and

said support leg extends from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact an inner peripheral surface of said adapter receiving portion.

7. A female coupler according to claim 3, wherein said female coupler body has:

an adapter receiving portion that extends from the rear end opening of said female coupler body toward a front end thereof to receive said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter and said valve head positioned forward of the front end of said cylindrical connecting portion, said adapter receiving portion having a uniform inner diameter over its entire length;

an annular valve seat formed at a front end of said adapter receiving portion, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head; and

a male coupler receiving portion that communicates with said adapter receiving portion through said valve seat and extends as far as a front end of said cylindrical female coupler body;

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said adapter receiving portion, and

said support legs extend from the front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact with an inner peripheral surface of said adapter receiving portion.

8. A female coupler according to claim 4, wherein said female coupler body has:

an adapter receiving portion that extends from the rear end opening of said female coupler body toward a front end thereof to receive said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter and said valve head positioned forward of the front end of said cylindrical connecting portion, said adapter receiving portion having a uniform inner diameter over its entire length;

an annular valve seat formed at a front end of said adapter receiving portion, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head; and

a male coupler receiving port ion that communicates with said adapter receiving portion through said valve seat and extends as far as a front end of said cylindrical female coupler body;

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said adapter receiving portion, and

said support legs extend from the front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact with an inner peripheral surface of said adapter receiving portion.

9. A male coupler for connection to a female coupler to form a pipe coupling, said male coupler comprising:

a cylindrical male coupler body having a front end opening, a rear end opening, and a through-hole extending between said front end opening and said rear end opening, said male coupler body being inserted into said female coupler to connect with said female coupler;

a pipe connection adapter having a cylindrical connecting portion that is inserted into said male coupler body from said rear end opening, and is thus connected to said male coupler body; and

a valve element set in said through-hole of said male coupler body at a position forward of said cylindrical connecting portion to open or close said through-hole;

said pipe connection adapter having;

a support leg extending from a front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion axially forward of said cylindrical connecting portion; and

a valve support ring secured to a front end of said support leg;

said valve support ring having;

a front end surface facing a valve head of said valve element set at a position axially forward of said valve support ring;

a rear end surface facing axially rearward of said valve support ring;

an outer circumferential surface having a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of said cylindrical connecting portion and defining a fluid passage between said outer circumferential surface and a wall surface of said through-hole of said male coupler body; and

an inner circumferential surface slidably receiving a valve guide rod extending from said valve head axially rearward of said male coupler body;

wherein said support leg is connected to said valve support ring at said rear end surface.

10. A male coupler according to claim 9, wherein said support leg has:

an axial portion extending from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion in parallel to a center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion; and

a radial portion extending from a front end of said axial portion radially inward either at right angles or obliquely forward as far as the rear end surface of said valve support ring and secured to said rear end surface.

11. A male coupler according to claim 9, wherein there are provided two of said support legs that extend from respective positions on said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion, said two support legs being secured to the rear end surface of said valve support ring at respective positions that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion.

12. A male coupler according to claim 10, wherein there are provided two of said support legs that extend from respective positions on said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion, said two support legs being secured to the rear end surface of said valve support ring at respective positions that have a symmetrical relation relative to the center axis of said cylindrical connecting portion.

13. A male coupler according to claim 9, wherein said through-hole of said male coupler body extends from the rear end opening of said male coupler body toward a front end thereof, and

an annular valve seat is formed at a front end of said through-hole, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head,

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of said through-hole, and

said support leg extends from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact the inner peripheral surface of said through-hole.

14. A male coupler according to claim 10, wherein said through-hole of said male coupler body extends from the rear end opening of said male coupler body toward a front end thereof, and

an annular valve seat is formed at a front end of said through-hole, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head,

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of said through-hole, and

said support leg extends from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact with the inner peripheral surface of said through-hole.

15. A male coupler according to claim 11, wherein said through-hole of said male coupler body extends from the rear end opening of said male coupler body toward a front end thereof, and

an annular valve seat is formed at a front end of said through-hole, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head,

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of said through-hole, and

said support legs extend from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact with the inner peripheral surface of said through-hole.

16. A male coupler according to claim 12, wherein said through-hole of said male coupler body extends from the rear end opening of said male coupler body toward a front end thereof, and

an annular valve seat is formed at a front end of said through-hole, said valve seat being adapted to be engaged with said valve head,

wherein said cylindrical connecting portion of said pipe connection adapter has an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of said through-hole, and

said support legs extend from said front end surface of said cylindrical connecting portion so as to contact with the inner peripheral surface of said through-hole.