Zero-flow fire-resistant thread-lock quick disconnect coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11137100-B2
Application number	US-202016877776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2020
Priority date	Feb 6, 2020
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

A zero-flow thread-lock quick connect/disconnect coupling having male and female couplers that enhance the fire-resistance capability of the coupling in a zero-flow pressurized state. The couplers include a fire-resistant seal assembly including a seal ring and non-metallic backup rings disposed. A first backup ring is made with a high-temperature non-metallic material and is formed as a delta ring for enhancing sealing performance during a fire event. A second non-metallic backup ring is formed as a half-delta ring between first and third backup rings. The third backup ring is made with a non-metallic material that is softer than the first and second backup rings and which abuts the seal ring. The female coupler includes a bearing ring that operatively connects a rotatable threaded support to the coupler body, a protrusion-slot interface between an actuating sleeve and the rotatable support, and a seal in the actuating sleeve for damping and/or debris-resistance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid coupler for a zero-flow fire-resistant quick-disconnect fluid coupling, comprising:
a coupler body having an axially-extending through-passage for forming at least a portion of a fluid flow path through the coupler body;
a seal groove in the coupler body, the seal groove having opposing first and second end surfaces that are spaced apart; and
a seal assembly disposed in the seal groove between the opposing first and second end surfaces, the seal assembly comprising:
a seal ring located in the seal groove at a first position toward the first end surface of the seal groove;
a first backup ring located in the seal groove at a second position toward the second end surface of the seal groove, the first backup ring being formed as a delta ring having a wedge shape in transverse cross-section, wherein the first backup ring is made with a non-metallic material;
a second backup ring located in the seal groove interposed between the seal ring and the first backup ring, the second backup ring having an inclined surface in transverse cross-section that interfaces against a complementary inclined surface of the first backup ring, wherein the second backup ring is made with a non-metallic material; and
a third backup ring in the seal groove interposed between the second backup ring and the seal ring, the third backup ring having a straight surface in transverse cross-section that interfaces against a complementary straight surface, in transverse cross section, of the second backup ring;
wherein at least when pressurized and heated with zero flow through the coupler, the sealing assembly restricts leakage of fluid externally of the coupler.

2. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second backup ring is formed as a half delta ring having a right trapezoid shape in transverse cross-section with the straight surface being a vertical surface opposite the inclined surface that interfaces against the first backup ring; and
wherein the third backup ring has a rectangular shape in transverse cross-section in which the straight surface of the third backup ring is a vertical surface that interfaces against the vertical surface of the second backup ring.

3. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the seal groove is a circumferential seal groove and the first end surface of the seal groove is located axially upstream of the second end surface in a leak path of the coupler toward a source of fluid pressure, and wherein the second end surface of the seal groove is an inclined surface in transverse cross-section;
wherein the wedge shape of the first backup ring is configured with a truncated triangular shape in transverse cross-section, the truncated triangular shape having opposite first and second inwardly inclined surfaces, the first inwardly inclined surface configured complementary to, and interfacing against, the inclined surface of the second end surface of the seal groove;
wherein the second backup ring is configured with a right trapezoid shape in transverse cross-section, the right trapezoid shape having the inclined surface and an opposite vertical surface that includes the straight surface of the second backup ring, the inclined surface configured complementary to, and interfacing against, the second inwardly inclined surface of the first backup ring;
wherein the third backup ring is configured with a rectangular shape in transverse cross-section, the rectangular shape having opposite first and second vertical surfaces, the first vertical surface including the straight surface of the third backup ring which is configured complementary to, and interfacing against, the vertical surface of the second backup ring; and
wherein the seal ring is a toroidal O-ring seal that abuts the second vertical surface of the third backup ring, the seal ring being located adjacent to the first end surface of the seal groove.

4. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the seal ring, the first backup ring, the second backup ring, and the third backup ring are each made with a non-metallic material.

5. The fluid coupler according to claim 4 ,
wherein the seal ring, the first backup ring, the second backup ring, and the third backup ring are made with different non-metallic materials from each other.

6. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the third backup ring is harder than the seal ring and softer than the first and second backup rings;
wherein the second backup ring is harder than the seal ring and the third backup ring; and
wherein the first backup ring is harder than the seal ring and the third backup ring.

7. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first backup ring is a polymeric material that has a thermal degradation temperature that is greater than the respective melting point temperatures of the second backup ring, the third backup ring, and the seal ring; and
when the coupler is heated while under fluid pressure to a temperature beyond the respective melting point temperatures of the second backup ring, the third backup ring, and the seal ring, the first backup ring is pushed towards a sealing diameter by at least the second end surface of the seal groove to thereby restrict leakage of fluid externally of the coupler.

8. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the third backup ring has greater lubricity than the first and second backup rings.

9. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first backup ring is made with a semi-crystalline polyimide material;
wherein the second backup ring is made with a polyetheretherketone material;
wherein the third backup ring is made with a fluoropolymer material; and
wherein the seal ring is made with an elastomeric material.

10. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fluid coupler is a female coupler further comprising:
a rotatable support radially outwardly of the coupler body, the rotatable support being supported by the coupler body and being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the coupler body, the rotatable support having radially inwardly protruding threads for threadably coupling to a corresponding male nipple;
wherein the rotatable support is coupled to the coupler body via a bearing ring disposed in circumferential gap formed between a radially outwardly protruding shoulder of the coupler body and a radially inwardly protruding shoulder of the rotatable support that is axially spaced from and radially overlaps with the radially outwardly protruding shoulder of the coupler body.

11. The fluid coupler according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fluid coupler is a female coupler further comprising:
a rotatable support radially outwardly of the coupler body, the rotatable support being supported by the coupler body and being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the coupler body, wherein the rotatable support has radially inwardly protruding threads for threadably coupling to a corresponding male nipple; and
an actuating sleeve radially outwardly of the rotatable support;
wherein the rotatable support includes axially extending slots in a radially outer surface of the rotatable support; and
wherein the actuating sleeve includes radially inwardly extending protrusions that are slidably disposed in the respective slots to thereby enable the actuating sleeve to move axially relative to the rotatable support and constraining rotational movement of the actuating sleeve relative to the rotatable support for co-rotation together.

12. A fluid coupler for a zero-flow fire-resistant quick-disconnect fluid coupling, comprising:
a coupler body having an axially-extending through-passage for

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Zhang Geoffrey R

Classifications

• F16J15/065 Primary

  fire resistant · CPC title

• F16J15/26

  with stuffing-boxes for rigid sealing rings · CPC title

• F16J15/3204

  with at least one lip · CPC title

• F16J15/166

  with means to prevent the extrusion of the packing · CPC title

• F16J15/104

  characterised by structure · CPC title