Quick-coupling female element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359758-B2
Application number	US-202318240575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2023
Priority date	Sep 8, 2022
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Quick-coupling female element. The female element includes a nipple configured for being fitted into a hose and which is rigidly attached to a hollow body extending along a longitudinal axis and which defines a receiving volume. Radial openings provided in the body along a guide axis emerge into the receiving volume and each receive a lock which is guided in translation between a locking position and an unlocking position. The female element includes an operating ring mounted to slide around the body between a locking position and an unlocking position and which comprises guide grooves which cooperate with pins of each lock. The guide grooves associated with each lock are geometrically supported by a guide plane inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that each lock is driven between the locking and unlocking positions thereof when the operating ring is moved between the locking and unlocking positions thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A female element of a quick-coupling, configured for being coupled to a hose, the female element comprising:
a body:
which extends along a longitudinal axis and which defines a volume for receiving the hose, the receiving volume having a shape of revolution about the longitudinal axis and jutting from the body through a mouth, the mouth defining a front side of the female element,
which comprises an abutment surface, which is located in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and which is oriented towards the front of the female element, the abutment surface delimiting the volume for receiving a rear side of the female element, the rear side being opposite to the front side, one nipple:
which is rigidly attached to the body of the female element and which extends into the receiving volume from the abutment surface,
which comprises a hollow body having a shape of revolution about the longitudinal axis, the hollow body defining a channel which emerges at the front side of the female element and into a passage provided in the female element on the rear side,
which comprises an external surface,

wherein the female element further comprises:
at least one radial opening, each radial opening being provided in the body of the female element along a guide axis radial to the longitudinal axis, each radial opening jutting into the receiving volume,
at least one lock, each lock being received in a respective radial opening and being movable in translation with respect to the body along the corresponding guide axis between a first position, wherein the lock penetrates into the receiving volume, and a second position, wherein the lock is further away from the longitudinal axis than in the first position, each lock comprising an internal surface for clamping the hose, oriented towards the longitudinal axis opposite the external surface of the nipple,
a return member configured for returning each lock to the first position thereof, and
an operating ring, which is arranged around the body coaxially with the longitudinal axis and which is movable in translation with respect to the body along the longitudinal axis between a locking position and an unlocking position,

and wherein:
each lock comprises pins, each extending along a direction orthogonal to the corresponding guide axis and orthoradial to the longitudinal axis,
the operating ring comprises guide grooves which cooperate with the pins of each lock, the guide grooves associated with each lock being geometrically supported by a guide plane inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that:
each lock is driven from the second position thereof to the first position thereof when the operating ring is moved from the unlocking position thereof to the locking position thereof, and
each lock is driven from the first position thereof to the second position thereof when the operating ring is moved from the locking position thereof to the unlocking position thereof.

2. The female element according to claim 1 , wherein the return member is configured for returning the operating ring towards the locking position thereof, and wherein the operating ring drives each lock towards the first position thereof when the return member returns the operating ring towards the locking position thereof.

3. The female element according to claim 1 , wherein the guide grooves move away from the longitudinal axis as same come closer to the front of the female element, the unlocking position of the operating ring being an axially retracted position, along the longitudinal axis, with respect to the locking position.

4. The female element according to claim 1 , wherein the return member applies a centripetal force to each lock which tends to move each lock from the second position thereof to the first position thereof.

5. The female element according to claim 1 , wherein the nipple has a circumferential bulge which is radially aligned with the internal clamping surface of each lock with respect to the longitudinal axis.

6. The female element according to claim 1 , wherein:
the internal clamping surface of each lock extends geometrically on the rear side of a first clamping plane which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis,
the nipple comprises a circumferential bulge provided on the external surface of the nipple and situated at the front of the first clamping plane of each lock.

7. The female element according to claim 6 , wherein the circumferential bulge comprises:
a flared proximal portion which is divergent towards the front of the female element and which is arranged opposite each lock, and a distal portion diverging toward the rear of the female element.

8. The female element according to claim 7 , wherein:
the proximal portion of the bulge is delimited rearwards by a second clamping plane which is parallel to the first clamping plane,
the first clamping plane and the second clamping plane are separated by an interval of less than 5 mm.

9. The female element according to claim 8 , wherein:
the first clamping plane and the second clamping plane are separated by an interval of less than 2 mm.

10. The female element according to claim 6 , wherein:
the external surface of the nipple comprises a clamping portion which is located at the rear of the proximal portion of the circumferential bulge and which extends opposite the internal clamping surface of each lock,
the clamping portion and the internal surface delimit therebetween a clamping annular space, and
the clamping portion has a cylindrical shape of circular cross-section.

11. The female element according to claim 1 , wherein the female element comprises:
a valve, which is partially received in the passage and which is movable with respect to the body between a forward position, wherein the valve closes the passage, and a retracted position, wherein the valve does not close the passage,
a second return member, which returns the valve to the forward position, the valve being configured for changing from the forward position to the retracted position when a hose is fitted onto the nipple and abuts against the abutment surface.

12. The female element according to claim 11 , wherein:
the body has a housing which emerges onto the abutment surface,
the female element comprises a control member which is received in the housing and which is movable in translation with respect to the body parallel to the longitudinal axis, between a jutting out position, wherein a front portion of the control member is jutting out from the abutment surface, and a retracted position, wherein the front portion does not jut out from the abutment surface,
the control member is configured for pushing the valve from the forward position to the retracted position when the hose is fitted onto the nipple and moves the forward portion of the control member from the jutting out position thereof to the retracted position thereof.

13. The female element according to claim 12 , wherein:
the body comprises a first view port,
which extends through the body along a viewing axis radial to the longitudinal axis,
which is provided at the front of the abutment surface, a first port opening into the receiving volume,
the first port being arranged so as to let the control member in the jutting out position be observed through the first port.

14. The female element according to claim 13 , wherein:
the operating ring comprises a second view port which extends through the operating ring along a passage axis parallel to a sighting axis,
the second port is arranged to coincide with the first port, when the operating ring is in the

Assignees

• Staubli Sa Ets

Inventors

• Marques Barroca Serafim
• Durieux Christophe

Classifications

• F16L37/122

  using hooks tightened by a wedge section · CPC title

• F16L37/40

  with a lift valve being opened automatically when the coupling is applied · CPC title

• F16L37/22

  in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts · CPC title

• F16L2201/10

  Indicators for correct coupling · CPC title

• F16L37/086

  by means of latching members pushed radially by spring-like elements {(radially moved latching members forming a ring F16L37/0841)} · CPC title