Coupling for self-contained breathing apparatus

• US 7,950,415 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Sweden AB (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TEMA Marketing AG
• Inventors: Simon, Horst, Witt, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRICE, CRAIG JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/791,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20080135048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.03, 137/614.06, 251/149.6, 251/149.9, 285/13, 285/14, 285/900, 285/924
• US Class Current: 137/614.03
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 13/148 specially designed to ensure an intended leakage until correct deformation
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/40 with a lift valve 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 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A socket part actuated without pressure for a fluid coupling is provided with a mechanism for mechanically sealing, to a large extent, the insertion space of a plug against the penetration of foreign matter. In addition, a throttling device is provided, which practically does not obstruct the fluid connection for an inserted plug, while a high flow resistance is produced for a plug that has been pulled out, without, however, completely blocking the flow path. The associated plug also has a sealing device in order to protect the flow channel against the penetration of particles when the plug is removed. In case the plug is connected to a compressed-air tank, this is provided with a throttling device, which practically does not obstruct flow for an inserted plug, but forms considerable flow resistance for a removed plug without completely blocking the flow.

Claims

1. A socket for receiving a plug of a fluid coupling comprising:

a base body having a passage channel therein;

a guide-sleeve arrangement anchored in the base body and arranged in an extension of the passage channel, the guide-sleeve arrangement having an insertion end that is set apart from the base body;

a plunger located in the guide sleeve arrangement and extending up to adjacent the insertion end of the guide sleeve arrangement, the plunger carrying a head adjacent the insertion end of the guide sleeve arrangement, the plunger and the guide sleeve arrangement defining an annular space in fluid communication with the passage channel;

a closing sleeve arranged in the annular space between the guide sleeve arrangement and the plunger, the closing sleeve being longitudinally movable between a work position and a rest position, wherein in the rest position the closing sleeve largely closes a portion of the annular space between the guide-sleeve arrangement and the head of the plunger without sealing the annular space;

a biasing element for biasing the closing sleeve into the rest position;

a locking device for a plug inserted into the socket; and

a throttling device that enables the passage channel to vent to an outer atmosphere when the plug has been removed from the socket, wherein the throttling device comprises a bevel on the plunger head which provides a gap on a portion of the interface between a coupling sleeve and the plunger.

2. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the base body is substantially rotationally symmetric and carries a connection thread.

3. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the passage channel of the base body comprises a stepped bore.

4. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the base body has an internal thread for attaching the guide sleeve arrangement.

5. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the guide sleeve arrangement is screwed to the base body.

6. The socket according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of bores are provided in adjacent the insertion end of the guide sleeve arrangement and the locking device including a plurality of locking elements that sit in the plurality of bores in the guide sleeve arrangement.

7. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the guide sleeve arrangement includes an outer and an inner guide sleeve which together define a cylindrical annular gap that receives a helical compression spring.

8. The socket according to claim 7, wherein the plunger is arranged in the inner guide sleeve.

9. The socket according to claim 7, wherein the inner guide sleeve ends at a base having a bore that extends in a longitudinal direction of the inner guide sleeve so as to define a flow channel providing fluid communication between the interior of the inner guide sleeve and the passage channel.

10. The socket according to claim 9, wherein the bore opens in a lateral direction adjacent the plunger.

11. The socket according to claim 7, wherein the closing sleeve comprises a inward projecting flange and a radially outward projecting collar.

12. The socket according to claim 11, wherein the radially outward projecting collar is configured to be insertable in the annular gap between the outer and the inner guide sleeve.

13. The socket according to claim 11, further including the coupling sleeve as being shiftable in the guide-sleeve arrangement in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of the plunger.

14. The socket according to claim 13, wherein one end of the coupling sleeve is received in a sealed manner in a bore of the guide sleeve arrangement with the coupling sleeve being movable relative to the guide-sleeve arrangement.

15. The socket according to claim 13, wherein an outer end of the coupling sleeve adjacent the coupling sleeve contacts the head of the plunger.

16. The socket according to claim 13, further including a biasing element for biasing the coupling sleeve in a direction towards the head of the plunger.

17. The socket according to claim 13, wherein the coupling sleeve has a radially outward projecting stop that is engageable with the closing sleeve such that the coupling sleeve is also moved away from the head when the closing sleeve is moved back by an inserted plug (70).

18. The socket according to claim 1, further including a locking sleeve.

19. The socket according to claim 18, wherein the locking sleeve is guided on an outside surface of the guide sleeve arrangement.

20. The socket according to claim 19, wherein the locking sleeve has a circumferential ring groove for receiving locking balls that are guided radially in the guide sleeve arrangement.

21. The socket according to claim 18, wherein the base body or the locking sleeve arrangement has a counter bearing surface for engaging a first end of a spring with the second end of the spring being attached to the locking sleeve.

22. The socket according to claim 18, wherein the locking sleeve is surrounded by a grip sleeve.

23. The socket according to claim 22, wherein the grip sleeve limits the axial stroke of the locking sleeve in at least one direction.

24. The socket according to claim 21, wherein the spring is a helical spring that is active in an axial direction and in a circumferential direction.

25. A socket for receiving a plug of a fluid coupling comprising:

a base body having a passage channel therein;

a guide sleeve arrangement anchored in the base body and arranged in the extension of the passage channel, the guide sleeve arrangement having an insertion end set apart from the base body;

a plunger arranged in the guide-sleeve arrangement and extending up to adjacent the insertion end of the guide sleeve arrangement, the plunger carrying a head adjacent the insertion end of the guide sleeve arrangement, the plunger and the guide-sleeve arrangement defining an annular space in fluid communication with the passage channel; and

holding elements which are guided into openings in the guide-sleeve arrangement;

a locking sleeve movable in a longitudinal and a circumferential direction between a locked position and a released position;

a biasing spring for biasing the locking sleeve in the locked position and in a rotated position,

a throttling device that enables the passage channel to vent to an outer atmosphere when the plug has been removed from the socket, wherein the throttling device comprises a bevel on the plunger head which provides a gap on a portion of the interface between a coupling sleeve and the plunger.

26. The socket according to claim 25, wherein the base body is substantially rotationally symmetric and carries a connection thread.

27. The socket according to claim 25, wherein the passage channel of the base body comprises a stepped bore.

28. The socket according to claim 25, wherein the base body has an internal thread for attaching the guide sleeve arrangement.

29. The socket according to claim 25, wherein the guide sleeve arrangement is screwed to the base body.

30. The socket according to claim 25, wherein a plurality of bores are provided in adjacent the insertion end of the guide sleeve arrangement and the locking device including a plurality of locking elements that sit in the plurality of bores in the guide sleeve arrangement.

31. The socket according to claim 25, wherein the guide sleeve arrangement includes an outer and an inner guide sleeve which together define a cylindrical annular gap that receives a helical compression spring.

32. The socket according to claim 31, wherein the plunger is arranged in the inner guide sleeve.

33. The socket according to claim 31, wherein the inner guide sleeve ends at a base having a bore that extends in a longitudinal direction of the inner guide sleeve so as to define a flow channel providing fluid communication between the interior of the inner guide sleeve and the passage channel.

34. The socket according to claim 33, wherein the bore opens in a lateral direction adjacent the plunger.

35. The socket according to claim 25, further including the coupling sleeve as being shiftable in the guide-sleeve arrangement in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of the plunger.

36. The socket according to claim 35, wherein one end of the coupling sleeve is received in a sealed manner in a bore of the guide sleeve arrangement with the coupling sleeve being movable relative to the guide-sleeve arrangement.

37. The socket according to claim 35, wherein an outer end of the coupling sleeve adjacent the coupling sleeve contacts the head of the plunger.

38. The socket according to claim 35, further including a biasing element for biasing the coupling sleeve in a direction towards the head of the plunger.

39. The socket according to claim 35, wherein the coupling sleeve has a radially outward projecting stop that is engageable with the closing sleeve such that the coupling sleeve is also moved away from the head when the closing sleeve is moved back by an inserted plug (70).

40. The socket according to claim 25, further including a locking sleeve.

41. The socket according to claim 40, wherein the locking sleeve is guided on an outside surface of the guide sleeve arrangement.

42. The socket according to claim 41, wherein the locking sleeve has a circumferential ring groove for receiving locking balls that are guided radially in the guide sleeve arrangement.

43. The socket according to claim 40, wherein the base body or the locking sleeve arrangement has a counter bearing surface for engaging a first end of a spring with the second end of the spring being attached to the locking sleeve.

44. The socket according to claim 40, wherein the locking sleeve is surrounded by a grip sleeve.

45. The socket according to claim 44, wherein the grip sleeve limits the axial stroke of the locking sleeve in at least one direction.

46. The socket according to claim 43, wherein the spring is a helical spring that is active in an axial direction and in a circumferential direction.