WO2021037571A1

WO2021037571A1 - Nipple for screw to connect coupling, coupling, and method for connecting the nipple

Info

Publication number: WO2021037571A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/072697
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonas Eriksson; Jan-Olof Johansson; Tony LUNDBERG
Original assignee: Cejn Ab
Priority date: 2019-08-28
Filing date: 2020-08-13
Publication date: 2021-03-04
Also published as: GB2586603B; GB2586603A; JP7383123B2; DE112020004130T5; JP2022545864A; GB201912304D0

Abstract

A nipple for a screw to connect coupling is disclosed. The nipple being a hand held mobile nipple, comprises a locking sleeve (10) having one or more threads (12) for a screw connection of a coupling, and the locking sleeve (10) having a gear (20); a gear housing (30) having one or more pinions (22) meshing the gear (20), the one or more pinions having means (24) for connecting to an external rotational tool; a nipple body (40) rotationally supporting the locking sleeve (10), and the nipple body (40) supporting the gear housing (30); and a stop (50) preventing relative rotation between the nipple body (40) and the gear housing (30). A method for connecting such a nipple and a coupling of a screw to connect coupling is also disclosed. The method comprises aligning the nipple and the coupling to engage the screw connection; apply a hand held electric rotational power tool (80) to the means (24) for connecting to an external rotational tool; and operate the hand held electric rotational power tool (80) to rotate the locking sleeve (10) thereby connecting the nipple with the coupling of the screw to connect coupling.

Description

NIPPLE FOR SCREW TO CONNECT COUPLING, COUPLING, AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING THE NIPPLE

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to screw to connect couplings, a type of quick connect couplings. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a nipple for a screw to connect couplings and how to connect such a nipple to a coupling of a screw to connect coupling.

Background

A quick connect coupling has a male part, the nipple, and a female part, the coupling. Screw to connect couplings are a type of quick connect couplings, where the nipple and coupling are connected by screwing one onto the other. While screw to connect couplings are known as such, recent attention has been given to handling and operating screw to connect couplings. US2967069, and GB1379519 disclose old prior art useful for understanding the background art.

One problem is the time it takes to screw, for example the nipple, onto the corresponding coupling. This can take several minutes and it is desirable to reduce this time considerably, preferably by 75 percent. Often a screw to connect coupling is fairly large. Pressure in the couplings and the fluid system they are part of makes this difficult. Often there is a space restriction, and environmental issues, where the coupling is located. This and other issues result in that it is time consuming and hard work to connect a screw to connect coupling.

A further problem is that any solution to these problems must allow for older screw connect couplings to be connectable. Any changes made to a nipple or coupling of a screw connect coupling must allow older nipples and couplings to be connected to such changed nipples and couplings.

It is also desirable to provide a screw to connect coupling that is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to manufacture, and is robust. The screw to connect coupling must also be able to provide a good and reliable flow through the coupling. The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above. Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nipple for a screw to connect coupling, and a method for connecting such a nipple and coupling of a screw to connect coupling. This object can be achieved by the features as defined by the independent claims. Further enhancements are characterised by the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, a nipple for a screw to connect coupling is disclosed, the nipple being a hand held mobile nipple. The nipple comprises a locking sleeve 10 having one or more threads 12 for a screw connection of a coupling, and the locking sleeve 10 having a gear 20; a gear housing 30 having one or more pinions 22 meshing the gear 20, the one or more pinions having means 24 for connecting to an external rotational tool; a nipple body 40 rotationally supporting the locking sleeve 10, and the nipple body 40 supporting the gear housing 30; and a stop 50 preventing relative rotation between the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30. The gear 20 is circumferential, around the locking sleeve 10, facing in the axial direction away from the face of the nipple. The gear 20 is integral with the locking sleeve 10, so the locking sleeve 10 and the gear 20 are one and the same part, a separate part of the nipple.

According to one embodiment, the locking sleeve 10, the gear housing 30, and the nipple body 40 may be separate parts of the nipple.

According to one embodiment, the nipple body 40 may have one or more openings 46 for accommodating at least a part of the one or more pinions 22.

According to one embodiment, the one or more pinions 22 may be: one pinion 22; or two pinions 22 positioned 180 degrees relative to each other; or three pinions 22 positioned 120 degrees relative to each other.

According to one embodiment, the one or more pinions 22 and the gear 20 may form a bevel gear.

According to one embodiment, each of the one or more pinions 22 may be perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple, and each of the one or more pinions 22 may comprise an axial protrusion 23, respectively, each axial protrusion 23 may be supported by the nipple body 40.

According to one embodiment, the nipple may further comprise a holder 32 connected to the gear housing 30, the holder 32 may retain the pinion 22 of the bevel gear in the gear housing 30 and the nipple body 40. According to one embodiment, the one or more pinions 22 and the gear 20 may form a worm gear.

According to one embodiment, there may be one or two means 24 for connecting to an external rotational tool, one on one end of, or two on each end of, the pinion 22 of the worm gear, the two means 24 may be facing away from each other, and may be aligned perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple.

According to one embodiment, the nipple may further comprise a locking mechanism 60, 62, 64 to lock, or un-lock, the locking sleeve 10 relative to the nipple body 40.

According to one embodiment, the locking sleeve 10 may be fitted between the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30.

According to one embodiment, the stop 50 may be a plurality of stops 50, and each stop 50 may be partly in a groove 52 in the nipple body 40 and partly in a groove 54 in the gear housing 30.

According to one embodiment, a screw to connect coupling comprises a nipple, according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein, and a coupling.

According to one embodiment, a method for connecting the nipple, according to any one of the preceding embodiments, and a coupling of a screw to connect coupling is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: 910 aligning the nipple and the coupling to engage the screw connection; 920 applying a hand held electric rotational power tool 80 to the means 24 for connecting to an external rotational tool; and 930 operating the hand held electric rotational power tool 80 to rotate the locking sleeve 10 thereby connecting the nipple with the coupling of the screw to connect coupling.

According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise the following step for when the nipple with the locking mechanism and coupling have been connected: 940 locking the locking sleeve 10 relative to the nipple body 40 with the locking mechanism 60, 62, 64.

One or more embodiments disclosed herein provide a screw to connect coupling that is fast to connect. At least one embodiment provides a nipple of a screw to connect coupling where the locking sleeve can be operated easily and fast for making a connection with a coupling. At least one embodiment provides a nipple of a screw to connect coupling that is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to manufacture, and is robust. At least one embodiment provides a method for connecting such a nipple and coupling of a screw to connect coupling. At least one of the above embodiments provides one or more solutions to the problems and disadvantages with the background art. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims. Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment disclosed herein may be technically combined with any other claimed embodiment(s) disclosed herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure.

FIG 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of a coupling of a screw to connect coupling without gears;

FIG 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of a nipple of a screw to connect coupling without gears;

FIG 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the view A-A from FIG 7;

FIG 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FI. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the view A-A from FIG 13; and

FIG 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of a method for connecting for connecting a nipple and a coupling of a screw to connect coupling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

FIGs 1 and 2 are diagrammatic illustrations of a screw to connect coupling, TLX from CEJN, without gears, and do not illustrate the claimed nipple. FIG 1 illustrated the female part 1 of the screw to connect coupling, also known as the coupling 1. FIG 2 illustrates the male part 2 of the coupling, also known as the nipple 2. Both FIG 1 and 2 illustrate the screw connect coupling with a view of a cut through the centre on the left side, and with a view of the outer surfaces on the right side. The nipple 2 comprises a locking sleeve 10 which can rotate relative to a nipple body 40. The coupling 1 and the nipple 2 are connected by rotating the locking sleeve 10 so that an inner thread of the locking sleeve 10 meshes with an outer thread on the coupling 1 and thereby the coupling 1 and the nipple 2 are pulled together and may be fully connected. A pin 64 may then be inserted to lock rotationally the locking sleeve 10 relative to the nipple body 40. The pin 64 may be attached to the nipple 2, or to a hose connected to the nipple 2, by a wire 66.

FIGs 3 to 14 are diagrammatic illustrations of a nipple according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGs 3 to 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment with a bevel gear, and FIGs 9 to 14 illustrates and exemplary embodiment with a worm gear.

FIG 3 illustrates the exemplary embodiment with a bevel gear from the side, FIG 4 from the end where the nipple body 40 can be seen, and FIG 5 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment with a bevel gear. FIG 4 also illustrates schematically how an external rotational tool 80 may be used to drive the bevel gear. The tool 80 may be inserted into one or more pinions have means 24 for connecting to the external rotational tool 80 as explained later.

FIG 6 illustrates the exemplary embodiment with a bevel gear of the nipple. The nipple is for a screw to connect coupling. The nipple being a hand held mobile nipple. That is, the nipple can be handled and moved by an operator by hand, e.g. the nipple can be lifted by human strength. The nipple may thus weight less than 70 kilos, preferably less than 50 kilos. No external lifting tools or lifting machinery needs to be used for handling or moving the nipple.

The nipple comprises a locking sleeve 10 having one or more threads 12 for a screw connection of a coupling. The locking sleeve may be single or double threaded. Preferably it is single threaded so that the nipple can connect with other existing couplings of a screw to connect coupling. The locking sleeve 10 has a gear 20. The gear 20 is circumferential, around the locking sleeve 10, facing in the axial direction away from the face of the nipple. The gear 20 is integral with the locking sleeve 10, so the locking sleeve 10 and the gear 20 are one and the same part, a separate part of the nipple. Alternatively, the locking sleeve 10 and the gear 20 could be separate parts. According to one embodiment, the locking sleeve 10 may be substantially cylindrical with the one or more threads 12 being internal at one end of the locking sleeve 10. According to one embodiment, the gears 20 may be at the other end, facing in the axial direction, of the locking sleeve 10.

The nipple comprises a gear housing 30 having one or more pinions 22 meshing the gear 20. The gear housing 30 may be a separate, preferably outer, part. The gear housing 30 may be substantially cylindrical and may have the nipple body 40 inside the gear housing 30. The one or more pinions 22 have means 24 for connecting to an external rotational tool 80, as for example illustrated in FIG 4. The rotational tool 80 is not part of the nipple. The means 24 may be any connection for a rotational tool, such as for example: internal slot or cross drive; internal or external triangle, square, hex, or double square; internal or external torx; any internal socket head screw; or similar to these. Preferably an internal connection is used for the means 24. This allows the rotational tool to engage close, or even inside, the one or more pinions 22 as well as inside the gear housing 30, and this would increase stability and handling.

The nipple comprises a nipple body 40, this may also be known as the central part of the male part, that connects to the coupling, the female part. The nipple body 40 rotationally supports the locking sleeve 10. This so that the locking sleeve 10 can rotate around the stationary nipple body and pull the nipple and coupling of the screw to connect coupling together. The nipple body 40 supports the gear housing 30. The nipple may be for a fluid, for example, hydraulic, air, high pressure fluid, etc. The nipple may be for a single hose of fluid or a coaxial nipple.

The nipple comprises a stop 50 preventing relative rotation between the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30. The stop may be an elongate stop member 50 that is partly in a groove of the nipple body 40 and partly in a corresponding groove in the gear housing 30. The nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30 may together with the stop 50 support the locking sleeve 10 rotationally. Thereby the locking sleeve 10 can rotate relative to the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30. The locking sleeve 10 may be rotationally locked with a separate locking mechanism 60, 62, 64 relative to the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30, as explained hereinafter, and this allows for the screw to connect coupling to lock the nipple with the coupling.

The locking sleeve 10, the nipple body 40, and the gear housing 30 may be separate parts of the nipple. The separate parts may be easily taken from the FIGs 3 to 14. This allows for easy assembling of the nipple. According to one embodiment, the locking sleeve 10 is fitted, preferably rotationally fitted, between the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30. Preferably one end of the locking sleeve 10 is rotationally fitted between the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30. According to one embodiment the gear housing 30 may partly overlap the locking sleeve 10. According to one embodiment the gear housing 30 may partly overlap the nipple body 40. According to one embodiment, the locking sleeve 10 may partly be inserted into the gear housing 30, and the locking sleeve 10 may partly overlap the nipple body 40. The nipple body 40 may have a first face 42 that prevents the locking sleeve 10 from being axially removed from the nipple body 40, in one axial direction. In this way the locking sleeve may be held between the first face 42 of the nipple body and the gear housing 30. The nipple body 40 may be, substantially, in two parts that can be assembled, e.g. screw connected. One part may comprise the first face 42 and the other part may comprise a second face 44, as best seen in FIGs 7 and 13. The gear housing 30 and a part of the locking sleeve 10 may be held between the first face 42 and the second face 44, in this way the gear housing 30 and a part of the locking sleeve 10 are axially held by the nipple body 40. This allows for easy assembling of the nipple and result in a robust nipple. According to one embodiment, the nipple body 40 may have one or more openings 46 for accommodating at least a part of the one or more pinions 22. Hereby the one or more pinions 22 may be supported rotationally by the nipple body 40. The gear housing 30 may have one or more openings 36 for accommodating at least a part of the one or more pinions 22. Hereby the one or more pinions 22 may be supported rotationally by the gear housing 30, as best seen in FIGs 7, 8, 13 and 14.

According to one embodiment, the one or more pinions 22 may be one pinion 22; or two pinions 22, preferably positioned 180 degrees relative to each other; or three pinions 22, preferably positioned 120 degrees relative to each other. This allows for an easy access with the rotational power tool 80 to operate the gears of the screw to connect nipple.

According to one embodiment, the one or more pinions 22 and the gear 20 may form a bevel gear, as best seen in FIGs 6 to 8. The bevel gear may be a straight, a spiral, a zerol, or a hypoid bevel gear.

According to one embodiment, each of the one or more pinions 22 may be perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple. Each of the one or more pinions 22 may comprise an axial protrusion 23, respectively, and each axial protrusion 23 may be supported by the nipple body 40. The axial protrusion 23 may be facing towards the centre of the nipple. Preferably each axial protrusion 23 may fit into a respective opening 46 of the nipple body 40. In this way, one end of the axial protrusion 23 may be supported by the nipple body 40. Each of the one or more pinions 22 may comprise an extension 25, respectively, and each extension 25 may be supported by the holder 32.

According to one embodiment, the nipple may further comprise one or more holders 32 connected to the gear housing 30. Each holder 32 may retain the respective pinion 22 of the bevel gear in the gear housing 30. The holder 32 may retain the pinion 22 in and/or against the nipple body 40, preferably in the opening 46. One end of the axial protrusion 23 may thus be supported by the nipple body 40, and the opposite end of the pinion 22 may be supported by the holder 32 and the opening 36 in the gear housing 30. The holder 32 may be a screw head with an opening for the pinion 22.

According to one embodiment, each pinion 22 may have a diameter that fits inside each opening 36 in the gear housing 30. According to one embodiment, the stop 50 may be a plurality of stops 50, and each stop 50 may be partly in a groove 52 in the nipple body 40 and partly in a groove 54 in the gear housing 30. According to one embodiment, each groove 52 in the nipple body 40 for the stop 50 may be the same length as the stop 50, and/or each groove 54 in the gear housing 30 for the stop 50 may be longer than the stop 50 to allow a relative sliding movement between the nipple body 40 and the gear housing 30 during assembly of the nipple. This may be best taken from FIGs 6 and 12.

FIG 9 illustrates the exemplary embodiment with a worm gear from the side, FIG 10 from the end where the nipple body 40 can be seen, and FIG 11 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment with a worm gear. FIG 10 also illustrates schematically how an external rotational tool 80 may be used to drive the worm gear.

FIG 12 illustrates the exemplary embodiment with a worm gear of the nipple. The nipple is for a screw to connect coupling. According to one embodiment, the one or more pinions 22 and the gear 20 form a worm gear (a worm drive). According to one embodiment, the nipple may have only one pinon 22 and the pinion 22 may be a worm, which is a gear in the form of a screw. The worm may mesh with the gear 20. The gear 20 may be a worm gear of the worm drive. The worm gear may be a straight, a spiral, a zerol, or a hypoid worm gear.

According to one embodiment, the nipple may comprise one or two means 24 for connecting to the external rotational tool 80, one on one end of, or two on each end of, the pinion 22 of the worm gear. The two means 24 may be facing away from each other, and may be aligned perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple. The two means 24 may be co-axial. The worm gear 22 may have means 24 for connecting to an external rotational tool 80, as for example illustrated in FIG 10. The rotational tool 80 is not part of the nipple. The means 24 may be any connection for a rotational tool, such as for example: internal slot or cross drive; internal or external triangle, square, hex, or double square; internal or external torx; any internal socket head screw; or similar to these. Preferably an internal connection is used for the means 24. This allows the rotational tool to engage close, or even inside, the one or more pinions 22, the worm gear 22, as well as inside the gear housing 30, and this increases stability and handling.

According to one embodiment, there may be two means 24, each one may be connected to an end of the worm gear 22. Preferably the connection is done with a screw connection, best illustrated in FIG 12. Each end of the worm gear 22 may be connected to the means 24, for connecting to the external rotational tool 80, by the holder 32, for example a bolt. Each means 24 may comprise and extension 25, respectively, connected by the holder 32, to each end of the worm gear 22.

According to one embodiment, the nipple may further comprise a locking mechanism 60, 62, 64 to lock, or un-lock, the locking sleeve 10 relative to the nipple body 40. This locking mechanism is illustrated best in FIGs 2, 4, 6, 10, and 12. The pin 64 may be inserted through a hole 62 of the locking sleeve 10. The pin 64 may be inserted through one hole 62 from the outside of the locking sleeve 10 until the pin 64 comes out of another aligned co-axial hole 62 of the locking sleeve 10. The pin 64 may prevent the side 60 of the nipple body 40 to rotate. The pin 64 may thus be parallel to the side 60. Hereby the locking sleeve 10 may be rotationally locked together with the nipple body 40.

According to one embodiment, a screw to connect coupling comprises any one embodiment described herein of the nipple and a coupling. By ensuring that the locking sleeve 10 has the same threads and diameter as previous locking sleeves of other screw to connect couplings, compatibility can be ensured. The present exemplary embodiments allow for the locking sleeve 10 to be freely configured with the same thread and diameter.

Turning to the method, FIG 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of the method for connecting a nipple, according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein, and a coupling of a screw to connect coupling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The first two method steps 910 and 920 may be taken in any order, and the other method steps 930 and 940, may be taken in order. The method as illustrated in FIG 15 comprises: 910 aligning the nipple and the coupling to engage the screw connection; 920 applying a hand held electric rotational power tool 80 to the means 24 for connecting to an external rotational tool; 930 operating the hand held electric rotational power tool 80 to rotate the locking sleeve 10 thereby connecting the nipple with the coupling of the screw to connect coupling.

According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise, as a last step, when the nipple comprises the locking mechanism and when the nipple and coupling have been connected, the following step. 940 locking the locking sleeve 10 relative to the nipple body 40 with the locking mechanism 60, 62, 64.

According to one embodiment, by using a hand held electric rotational power tool 80 to operate the nipple according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein, a swift and strong connection can be made. Even if there is residual pressure left in the system to be connected with the screw to connect coupling, a hand held electric rotational power tool can connect the nipple and the coupling.

According to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, a nipple for a screw to connect coupling is provided that is fast to connect, and can connect with force to overcome pressure left in the system. At least one embodiment provides a nipple of a screw to connect coupling where the locking sleeve can be operated easily and fast for making a connection with a coupling. At least one embodiment provides a nipple of a screw to connect coupling that is inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to manufacture, and is robust. At least one embodiment provides a method for connecting such a nipple and coupling of a screw to connect coupling.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the nipple of the screw to connect coupling and the method for connecting the nipple. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed nipple. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.

List of elements for the nipple of a screw to connect coupling

1 coupling

2 nipple

10 locking sleeve

12 thread

20 gear

22 pinion

23 axial protrusion

24 means for connecting to an external tool

25 extension

30 gear housing

32 holder

36 opening in the gear housing 30

40 nipple body

42 first face

44 second face

46 opening

50 stop

52 groove in the nipple body 40 54 groove in the gear housing 30

60 side

62 hole

64 pin

66 wire

80 external rotational tool

Claims

1 A nipple for a screw to connect coupling, the nipple being a hand held mobile nipple, comprising: a locking sleeve (10) having one or more threads (12) for a screw connection of a coupling, and the locking sleeve (10) having a gear (20); a gear housing (30) having one or more pinions (22) meshing the gear (20), the one or more pinions having means (24) for connecting to an external rotational tool; a nipple body (40) rotationally supporting the locking sleeve (10), and the nipple body (40) supporting the gear housing (30); and a stop (50) preventing relative rotation between the nipple body (40) and the gear housing (30); characterized by the gear (20) being circumferential, around the locking sleeve (10), facing in the axial direction away from a face of the nipple, and the gear (20) being integral with the locking sleeve (10), the locking sleeve (10) and the gear (20) being one and the same part, a separate part of the nipple.

2 The nipple according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve (10), the gear housing (30), and the nipple body (40) are separate parts of the nipple.

3 The nipple according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nipple body (40) has one or more openings (46) for accommodating at least a part of the one or more pinions (22).

4 The nipple according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more pinions (22) are: one pinion (22); or two pinions (22) positioned 180 degrees relative to each other; or three pinions (22) positioned 120 degrees relative to each other.

5 The nipple according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more pinions (22) and the gear (20) form a bevel gear. 6 The nipple according to claim 5, wherein each of the one or more pinions (22) are perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple, and each of the one or more pinions (22) comprises an axial protrusion (23), respectively, each axial protrusion (23) being supported by the nipple body (40).

7 The nipple according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a holder (32) connected to the gear housing (30), the holder (32) retaining the pinion (22) of the bevel gear in the gear housing (30) and the nipple body (40).

8 The nipple according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more pinions (22) and the gear (20) form a worm gear.

9 The nipple according to claim 8, wherein there are one means (24) for connecting to an external rotational tool, on one end of the pinion (22) of the worm gear, and aligned perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple; or wherein there are two means (24) for connecting to an external rotational tool, one on each end of the pinion (22) of the worm gear, the two means (24) facing away from each other, and aligned perpendicular to the axial direction of the nipple.

10 The nipple according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a locking mechanism (60, 62, 64) to lock, or un-lock, the locking sleeve (10) relative to the nipple body (40).

11 The nipple according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking sleeve (10) is fitted between the nipple body (40) and the gear housing (30).

12 The nipple according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop (50) is a plurality of stops (50), and each stop (50) is partly in a groove (52) in the nipple body (40) and partly in a groove (54) in the gear housing (30).

13 A screw to connect coupling comprising a nipple, according to any one of the preceding claims, and a coupling. 14 A method for connecting a nipple, according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, and a coupling of a screw to connect coupling, comprising the following steps: aligning (910) the nipple and the coupling to engage the screw connection; applying (920) a hand held electric rotational power tool (80) to the means

(24) for connecting to an external rotational tool; and operating (930) the hand held electric rotational power tool (80) to rotate the locking sleeve (10) thereby connecting the nipple with the coupling of the screw to connect coupling.

15 The method according to claim 14, further comprising the following step for when the nipple according to claim 10 and coupling have been connected: locking (940) the locking sleeve (10) relative to the nipple body (40) with the locking mechanism (60, 62, 64).