GB2067697A

GB2067697A - Releasable pipe coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2067697A
Application number: GB8000107A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SKOL BROUWERIJEN NV
Current assignee: SKOL BROUWERIJEN NV
Priority date: 1980-01-02
Filing date: 1980-01-02
Publication date: 1981-07-30

Abstract

The invention provides a device for coupling a hose or pipe to a pressure tank, comprising a first coupling part (6) firmly attached to the hose or pipe and which is furnished with a cap (10) which is rotatable with respect to the hose or pipe and has at least one cam (15) formed on the inside or the cap (10), and a second coupling part (1) firmly mounted to the pressure tank which is furnished with a closure valve and at least one outer groove (16) for holding the cam (15), said groove (16) being V-shaped so that the cap (10) has first to be turned in one direction and then in the opposite direction for coupling and uncoupling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coupling The invention refers to a coupling device for coupling a hose or pipe to a pressure tank, as e.g.

a gas cylinder, with the coupling consisting of a first coupling part firmly attached to the hose or pipe which is furnished with a fixing device rotating with regard to the hose or pipe, and a second coupling part firmly arranged at the pressure tank furnished with an end device.

Couplings of this type are known from practice and are frequently used, e.g. for gas bottles for beer tapping appliances. These couplings usually have a nut fixed to the hose or pipe which can be screwed on to the valve on the gas bottle with a socket wrench. Often the necessary socket wrench cannot be found so that the gas cylinder cannot be exchanged or the nut has to be screwed on and off with a tool less suited for this purpose, which can lead to damage of the coupling.

Moreover, a certain skill is necessary, even if the correct tool for loosening and tightening the nut is available, so that the nut is not mounted at an angle on the thread of the gas cylinder and the thread is damaged by this. This is especially imporant for beer tapping appliances, as even with such appliances the gas cylinders are exchanged by laymen.

Above disadvantages are removed according to the invention by furnishing the first coupling part, which is firmly attached to the hose or pipe, with a rotary cap which has at least one cam formed on the inside of the cap and by the second coupling part having at least one outer groove for holding the cam, whereby the groove is V-shaped so, that for coupling or uncoupling, the cap has first to be turned in one direction and then in a second opposite direction.

From practice, quick coupling devices are known which are e.g. used with compressed-air appliances. However, a disadvantage of these appliances is that, on loosening the coupling, the pressure still existing inside drives the coupled parts forcibly apart. These quick coupling devices are therefore only used for relatively low pressures. As the pressure in gas bottles can be up to 6000 kPa, the use of the existing quick couplings would represent an irresponsible risk, because a hose coming off with force can e.g.

easily cause injuries.

In another version of the invention, the V-shaped groove is at the bottom side of the V furnished with a groove part running parallel to the axis of the second coupling part.

A further disadvantage of known couplings is that with vertical mounting of the hose on the gas cylinder, the danger exists that dirt falling down will soil the valve of the gas cylinder when the hose is not there. Moreover, the height of the gas cylinder is increased, a fact which is usually disadvantageous for beer tapping appliances, the gas cylinders of which are usually to be arranged under the counter.

To remove this disadvantage, the second coupling part has, according to another version of the invention, the shape of a corner piece, with the part of the second coupling part to be coupled with the cap enclosing an angle with the longitudinal axis of the pressure tank.

One version of the coupling invented is described below with reference to the drawing.

It is shown in: Fig. 1 a cross section; and in Fig. 2, partly as cross section, a coupling arranged at an angle of 900 with regard to the longitudinal axis of a gas cylinder.

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of an example of the coupling invented with the first coupling part 6 and the second coupling part 1. The valve spindle 2 is partly square in profile and this part is put through the circular inner wall of part 1. Through this, there are spaces between the circular inner wall and the square valve spindle through which the gas can flow and, moreover, this gives a good, straight-lined guide for the valve spindle. The valve spindle 2 is fixed to poppet valve cylinder 3 which is held in its place with spring 4 so that the second coupling part holds the valve spindle with the poppet valve cylinder in the correct position, when the pressure ceases. An 0-ring 5 of rubber causes the sealing of the coupling; this ring is compressed by the gas pressure in such a way that the sealing is gastight.Coupling part 6, firmly arranged to hose or pipe, is furnished with a cap 10 which is fixed with nut 1 1 in such a way that the cap can still be rotated around coupling part 6.

Cap 10 has a cam 15 on the inner side which can be fitted into a groove 16 of coupling part 1 to be discussed below. Coupling part 6 is further furnished with a bored-through inset part 9 which is screwed into part 6 and has at the end on the inside a spring 8. This spring 8 presses on the bottom side a ball 7 against the concave inner surface of part 6; this ball causes that, on loosening the coupling, the gas, still left under pressure in the hose or pipe, cannot escape. Cap 10 Moreover has two parts or handles radially extruding outward which are arranged in such a way that sufficient force can be exerted on loosening the coupling by hand. Coupling part 1 which is fixed to the pressure tank is also fitted with a safety mechanism 13 which is an excess pressure safety mechanism for the pressure tank.

Fig. 2 shows a version of the invented hose coupling which is arranged at an angle of 900 with regard to the longitudinal axis of a gas cylinder. As far as possible, the same reference numbers as in fig. 1 have been used in this figure. Furthermore, in this figure, the gas cylinder is given with 17, the hose with 18 and the protective cover which is mounted as prescribed on the gas cylinder and is to cause that the lock cannot break off, when the cylinder is falling, is given with 19. The coupling can be effected through one of the openings in the side wall of the protective cover. Owing to the fact that the coupling is arranged at an angle of 900, the danger of soiling the second coupling part, when no hose is fitted, becomes considerably less.

In fig. 2, the shape of groove 16, into which the cams 1 5 of cap 10 can be fitted, is clearly visible.

If cap 10 is in the position shown in fig. 2, the valve cylinder 3 has been shifted so far over valve spindle 2 and coupling part 6 that the gas can flow through the inner channels of the coupling device from the cylinder to the hose.

The uncoupling is done in two phases. First cap 10 is turned by means of the handles 12 to the right, until cam 15 has reached that part of groove 1 6 that is horizontal in fig. 2. At this moment, coupling part 6 and cap 10 are firmly pressed to the left through the pressure still left in the coupling, while valve cylinder 3 is already in the locking position. The residual pressure can escape now, while the hose cannot spring off as, to loosen the cap 10, it has still to be turned to the left over a certain distance of groove 16, after which cam 15 can be taken out of groove 16. Obviously, to loosen cap 10 in the above version, it can first be turned to the left and then to the right by means of a suitably formed groove.

The connecting of the hose to the gas cylinder is, of course, done in reverse order.

As example of operation, a cap 10 with a single cam and a second coupling part 1 with a single V-shaped groove have been described. Preferably, however, two cams and two V-shaped grooves are to be used for the purpose of stability, while a number greater than two also belongs to the possibilities.

The invention thus provides a coupling for pressure tanks which can be operated without additional tools and with little force even by laymen, and which avoids the risk connected with the hose or pipe springing off through the residual pressure in the coupling, and moreover, the coupling can be arranged at an angle to the pressure tank, thus lowering the danger of soiling, when the hose or pipe is disconnected, as well as the height necessary for the connected pressure tank.

The invention cannot only be used for carbon dioxide cylinders for beer tapping but also e.g. for connecting carbon dioxide cylinders which are used in swimming pools for regulating the acid content (pH) of the water.

Althrough an example of operation for coupling a hose and gas cylinder, it is also possible - due to the rotary cap 10 - to couple a pipe instead of a hose to a pressure tank. Moreover, the invention can be used in particular where laymen have to be enabled to connect gas cylinders. Thus the invention provides a device for coupling a hose or pipe to a pressure tank with the coupling consisting of a first coupling part firmly attached to the hose or pipe furnished with a fixing device rotating w;th regard to the hose or pipe and a second coupling part firmly arranged at the pressure tank furnished with an end device, this coupling device being characterised by the fact that the first coupling part (6) is furnished with a rotary cap (10) with at least one cam (15) formed on the inside of the cap and that the second coupling part (1 ) has at least one outward groove (16) to hold the cam, with this groove having V-shape so that for coupling or uncoupling the cap has first to be turned in one direction and then in another opposite direction.

Claims

1. A device for coupling a hose or pipe to a pressure tank which coupling comprises a first coupling part firmly connectable to the hose or pipe and a second coupling part firmly connectible to the pressure tank, wherein the first coupling part is provided with a rotatable cap with at least one cam formed on the inside of the cap and wherein the second coupling part has at least one outward groove for engagement with the cam, said groove being generally V-shaped and formed so that for coupling or uncoupling the cap has first to be turned in one direction ana then in another opposite direction.

2. Coupling according to Claim 1 characterised by the fact that the V-shaped groove has a groove part running parallel to the axis of the second coupling part at the bottom side of the V.

3. Coupling according to one or more of Claims 1 and 2 characterised by the fact that the second coupling part has the form of a corner piece with the cap of part of the second coupling part which is to be coupled encloses an angle with the longitudinal axis of the pressure tank.

4. Coupling according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3 characterised by the fact that the first coupling part is furnished with a closing mechanism consisting of a spring and a ball.

5. Coupling according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4 characterised by the fact that the second coupling part has a poppet valve cylinder to which a valve spindle with a partly square profile is attached and that the poppet valve cylinder is under spring pressure.

6. Coupling according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5 characterised by the fact that the cap has radially projecting parts or handles.

7. Coupling according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6 characterised by the fact that the second coupling part can be coupled to the first coupling part through a hole in the side wall of a projecting cover attached to the pressure tank.

8. A coupling according to Claim 1 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.