Coupling

• US 5,527,073 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delta Engineering Holdings Limited (Broen Valves)
• Original Assignee: University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Readman, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US08/185,788
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 285/340, 285/902, 285/318, 285/321, 411/352, 411/353, 411/517, 411/518, 411/519, 411/525, 411/526, 411/527
• US Class Current: 285/340
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/091 by means of a ring provided with teeth or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/902 Canted ring

Abstract

A coupling comprising a first member defining a socket, a second number such as a tube defining a spigot inserted into an open end of the socket, and a locking device received within an annular gap defined between an inner wall of the socket and an outer wall of the spigot. The locking device comprises circumferentially spaced load-bearing members, each load-bearing member extending within the annular gap from a first end which is relatively close to the open end of the socket and a second end which is relatively remote from the open end of the socket. Each load-bearing member is resiliently biased such that the first end engages the socket and the second end engages the spigot, and each load-bearing member is dimensioned such that it acts substantially as a beam in compression to resist withdrawal of the spigot from the socket.

Claims

1. A coupling, comprising a first member defining a socket;

a second member defining a spigot inserted into an open end of the socket; and

,

a locking device received within an annular gap defined between an inner wall of the socket and an outer wall of the spigot, wherein the locking device comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively stiff load bearing members interconnected by relatively flexible interconnecting means, each load bearing member extending within the annular gap between a first end which is relatively close to the open end of the socket and a second end which is relatively remote from the open end of the socket, the interconnecting means resiliently biasing each load bearing member such that the first end engages the socket and the second end engages the spigot, the interconnecting means enabling each load bearing member to pivot about the first and second ends substantially independently of the other load bearing members, such that each load bearing member acts as a beam in compression to resist withdrawal of the spigot from the socket, the locking device further comprising an annular member of resilient material defining a front face, a back face, a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the annual member being provided with a plurality of radial slots grouped in pairs, the annular member being provided with apertures extending radially therethrough at the location of each pair of slots, one slot of each pair extending radially outwards from the radially inner surface of the annual member and the other extending radially inwards from the radially outer surface of the annular member, the arrangement being such that a load bearing member is defined between neighboring pairs of slots and each pair of slots defines said flexible interconnecting means between adjacent load bearing members.

2. A coupling, comprising a first member defining a socket;

a second member defining a spigot inserted into an open end of the socket; and

,

a locking device received within an annular gap defined between an inner wall of the socket and an outer wall of the spigot, wherein the locking device comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively stiff load bearing members interconnected by relatively flexible interconnecting means, each load bearing member extending within the annular gap between a first end which is relatively close to the open end of the socket and a second end which is relatively remote from the open end of the socket, the interconnecting means resiliently biasing each load bearing member such that the first end engages the socket and the second end engages the spigot, the interconnecting means enabling each load bearing member to pivot about the first and second ends substantially independently of the other load bearing members, such that each load bearing member acts as a beam in compression to resist withdrawal of the spigot from the socket, the locking device further comprising an annular member of resilient material defining a front face, a back face, a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the annual member being provided with a plurality of radial slots grouped in pairs, one slot of each pair extending radially outwards from the radially inner surface of the annual member and the other extending radially inwards from the radially outer surface of the annular member, the arrangement being such that a load bearing member is defined between neighboring pairs of slots and each pair of slots defines said flexible interconnecting means between adjacent load bearing members, the load bearing members bearing against a cylindrical surface and the portions of the load bearing members which bear against the cylindrical surface defining sections of a helix such that the coupling may be disengaged by relative rotation between the spigot and socket.

3. A coupling, comprising a first member defining a socket;

a second member defining a spigot inserted into an open end of the socket; and

,

a locking device received within an annular gap defined between an inner wall of the socket and an outer wall of the spigot, wherein the locking device comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively stiff load bearing members interconnected by relatively flexible interconnecting means, each load bearing member extending within the annular gap between a first end which is relatively close to the open end of the socket and a second end which is relatively remote from the open end of the socket, the interconnecting means resiliently biasing each load bearing member such that the first end engages the socket and the second end engages the spigot, the interconnecting means enabling each load bearing member to pivot about the first and second ends substantially independently of the other load bearing members, such that each load bearing member acts as a beam in compression to resist withdrawal of the spigot from the socket, the locking device further comprising an annular member of resilient material defining a front face, a back face, a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the annual member being provided with a plurality of radial slots grouped in pairs, one slot of each pair extending radially outwards from the radially inner surface of the annual member and the other extending radially inwards from the radially outer surface of the annular member, the arrangement being such that a load bearing member is defined between neighboring pairs of slots and each pair of slots defines said flexible interconnecting means between adjacent load bearing members, the load bearing members bearing against a cylindrical surface and the portions of the load bearing members which bear against the cylindrical surface defining sections of a helix, wherein both the radially inner and outer ends of the load bearing members define helices, each engaging a respective cylindrical surface in the coupling, such that the coupling may be disengaged by relative rotation between the spigot and socket.

4. A coupling, comprising a first member defining a socket;

a second member defining a spigot inserted into an open end of the socket; and

,

a locking device received within an annular gap defined between an inner wall of the socket and an outer wall of the spigot, wherein the locking device comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively stiff load bearing members interconnected by relatively flexible interconnecting means, each load bearing member extending within the annular gap between a first end which is relatively close to the open end of the socket and a second end which is relatively remote from the open end of the socket, the interconnecting means resiliently biasing each load bearing member such that the first end engages the socket and the second end engages the spigot, the interconnecting means enabling each load bearing member to pivot about the first and second ends substantially independently of the other load bearing members, such that each load bearing member acts as a beam in compression to resist withdrawal of the spigot from the socket, the locking device further comprising an annular member of resilient material defining a front face, a back face, a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the annual member being provided with a plurality of radial slots grouped in pairs, one slot of each pair extending radially outwards from the radially inner surface of the annual member and the other extending radially inwards from the radially outer surface of the annular member, the arrangement being such that a load bearing member is defined between neighboring pairs of slots and each pair of slots defines said flexible interconnecting means between adjacent load bearing members, the load bearing members bearing against a cylindrical surface and the portions of the load bearing members which bear against the cylindrical surface defining sections of a helix, the radially inner edges of the load bearing members defining a helix free to slide relative to the cylindrical surface against which they bear, the radially outer edges of the load bearing members being prevented from sliding relative to the surface against which they bear, such that the coupling may be disengaged by relative rotation between the spigot and socket.