AU599982B2 - Quick hydraulic coupler - Google Patents

Description

73,522/87 WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY International Bureau

PCT

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PI '(PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 88/ 08499 F16L 29/00 Al (43) International Publication Date: 3 November 1988 (03.11.88) (21) International Application Number: PCT/USI,7/00935 (81) Designated States: AU, BR, DE (European patent), FR (European patent), GB (European patent), IT (Euro- (22) International Filing Date: 29 April 1987 (29.04.87) pean patent), JP, US.

(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): BELL Published HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC. [US/US); 600 East With international search report.

Hurst Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76053 (US).

(72) Inventors; and Inventors/Applicants (for US only) OLSON, Rohn, Lee [US/US]; 5016 A Winder Court, North Richland Hills, TX '6180 CAERO, Jose, German [US/ US]; 4205 Clayton Road West, Fort Worth, TX 76116 J.P. 5 JAN 1389

(US),

(74) Agents: KORN, Martin et al.; Richards, Harris, Medlock Andrews, 4500 Renaissance Tower, 1201 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75270-2197 AUSTRALIAN 2 DEC 1988 I et lor" PATENT OFFICE (54) Title: STRAIGHT CONNECTING HYDRAULIC QUICK COUPLER 18 20 24 16 39 34 44 50 40 26 14 17 22 42 36 46 38 37 28 48 (57) Abstract A quick connect/disconnect hydraulic coupler is provided especially for connecting rigid hydraulic members where no axial movement of the coupling halves can be achieved. The quick coupler comprises a male connector (30) attached to one hydraulic line and a female connector (10) attached to another hydr.nulic line. The male and female connectors each include an annular ,heck valve (36, 16) that is spring-biased against a poppet seat (42, 22) to prevent loss of hydraulic fluid when the coupler halves uae disconnected. The male connector (30) has an annular coupling nut (50) surrounding and confining the male check valve When the male and female connector halves are aligned, the coupling nut (50) can be moved axially toward the female connector (10) and rotated to engage threads (14) on the outside circumference of the female connectr. Tightening the coupling nut (50) into the female connector (10) forces the inale check valve (36) to extend and to form a seal with the female check valve Tightening the coupling nut (50) also forces both the male and female check valves (36, 16) off their poppet seats (42, 22) to open hydraulic ports (44, 24) and establish fluid flow through the coupler.

1 r. i WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 STRAIGHT CONNECTING HYDRAULIC QUICK COUPLER STRAIGHT CONNECTING HYDRAULIC QUICK COUPLER TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to hydraulic line couplers and, in particular, to a qu,.ck connect/disconnect hydraulic coupler for connecting rigid hydraulic members where no axial movement of the coupling halves can be achieved.

WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many different types of couplers have been used for connecting and disconnecting hydraulic lines and for preventing loss of hydraulic fluid upon disconnection. In most hydraulic systems, it is advantageous to provide these couplers at convenient locations for the rapid connection and disconnection of hydraulic lines.

Hydraulic couplers generally comprise a female connector on one hydraulic line and a male connector on a line to be connected. The connection of this type of coupler is accomplished simply by moving one or both of the coupling halves along the axis of the line so that the male connector "plugs into" the female connector.

The "plug-in" type of hydraulic coupler is very convenient to use and is satisfactory for many coupling situations. However, the axial movement necessary to complete the coupling action in presently available hydraulic couplers prevents their use with hard-line plumbing where no Pxial movement can be achieved. Hard-line connectioni nay be required between two rigid hydraulic lines wbhre flexible lines cannot be accommodated or between a fixed hydraulic '-omponent and a rigid hydraulic line. Thus, there exists a need for an hydraulic coupler which provides for rapid connection and disconnection of rigid hydraulic lines where no axial movement of the coupling halves can be achieved.

I I I a r I S_ 1 I -3- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one broad form the present invention can be said to consist in an hydraulic coupler for quick connection and disconnection, comp-ising: a female connector having a first axis, a first poppet seat, a first fluid port, and a first annular check valve, said first check valve slidably disposed within said female connector for translation along said first axis; a first means for biasing said first check valve against said first poppet seat to close said first fluid port; a male connector having a second axis, a second poppet seat, a second fluid port, and a second annular check valve, said second check valve slidably disposed around said male connector for translation along said second axis and having a means for forming a seal with said first check valve; S' a second means for biasing said second check valve 20 against said second poppet seat to close said second fluid *port; and an annular coupling nut slidably disposed around said second annular check valve for rotation about and translation along said second axis, said coupling nut owe* 25 adapted to align said axes, to engage said female connector, and to urge said second check valve into e contact with said first check valve to form said seal, unseat said first and second check valves, and open said first and second fluid ports.

ooe -4- In a preferred form the above described invention additionally includes that said coupling nut is further adapted to align said axes and engage said female connector without movement of said male and female connectors along said axes.

0

S

S

S

*.S

S r dr h r rc,

Q

Yq ~I rc~v~ WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the hydraulic coupler of the present invention showing the male and female connectors disconnected but aligned for connecting; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a fully connected hydraulic coupler of the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the disconnected male and female connectors of the hydraulic coupler of the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connected hydraulic coupler of the present invent ion; FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a possible leakage path during connection of the hydraulic coupler of the present invention; and FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the hydraulic coupler of the present invention.

L I_ -I WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 -6- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same components in the FIGURES, FIGURES 1 and 3 illustrate the disconnected male and female connectors of the present invention and FIGURES 2 and 4 illustrate the fully connected hydraulic coupler of the present invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3, reference numeral 10 refers to the female connector and reference numeral 30 refers to the male connector of the present invention. The female connector 10 includes a base 12 which can be attached to a hydraulic line so that hydraulic fluid can flow through a bore 28.

Likewise, the male connector 30 includes a base 32 which may be connected to another hydraulic line so that fluid can flow through a bore 48. A portion of the base 12 includes threads 14 around the outside circumference of the base 12. An annular check valve 16 is slidably disposed within the base 12. A biasing means, such as a coil spring 18, urges the check valve 16 against a poppet seat 22 to prevent the loss of hydraulic fluid when the connectors and 30 are disconnected. Hydraulic fluid from the bore 28 flows through ports 24 into a cavity 26 to provide pressure to further urge the check valve 16 against the seat 22. An O-ring 20 provides a seal between the base 12 and the check valve 16 to prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid.

The male connector 30 includes an annular check valve 36 disposed around the base 32. The check valve 36 is connected to a retaining ring 37. The 0ring seals 39 and 40 prevent leakage of hydraulic WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 -7fluid. A biasing means, such as a coil spring 38, urges the check valve 36 against a poppet seat 42 to prevent the loss of hydraulic fluid from the bore 48. Hydraulic fluid from the bore 48 passes through ports 44 into a cavity 46 to provide pressure to further urge the check valve 36 against the seat 42. An annular coupling nut 50 surrounds and contains the check valve 36 and the retaining ring 37, which are slidably disposed between the base 32 and the coupling nut 50. The coupling nut includes threads 34 on a portion of its inside circumference. The threads 34 are adapted to engage the threads 14 of the female connector The hydraulic coupler of the present invention may be connected by aligning the female connector with the male connector 30. The connectors 10 and may be placed in physical contact with each other and aligned without the necessity for axial movement of either or both of the connectors 10 and The connectors 10 and 30 may be coupled together as shown in FIGURES 2 and* 4. After the connectors and 30 are in contact with each other and aligned, the coupling nut 50 can be moved axially toward the female connector 10 so that rotational movement of the coupling nut 50 engages the threads 34 with the threads 14. As the connectors 10 and 30 are being connected, the check valve 36 and the 0--ring seal 39 are forced by the coupling nut 50 to unseat from the poppet seat 42 and to extend over the Check valve 16 of the female connector 10. The 0-ring 39 provides a seal between the check valve 16 and the check valve 36 to prevent the loss of fluid from the bore 48 and the ports 44. As the coupling nut 50 is tightened on i c, I- 1 WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 the threads 14, the check valve 36 is urged against a flange 17 on the outer surface of.the check valve 16, thereby forcing the check valve 16 to unseat from the poppet seat 22. When the connectors 10 and 30 are fully coupled, the check valves 16 and 36 are unseated and fluid communication is established between the bores 28 and 48 through the ports 24 and 44 and a channel 54 created by the coupling of the connectors 10 and The hydraulic coupler of the present invention may be disconnected simply by unthreading the coupling nut 50 in a reverse of the connecting procedure set forth above. The biasing springs 18 and 38 urge the check valves 16 and 36 back against their seats 22 and 42, respectively, to prevent loss of fluid when the hydraulic coupler is disconnected.

In the embodiment described in conjunction with FIGURES 3 and 4, it is possible for hydraulic fluid to escape during coupling when the bore 48 of the male connector 30 is pressurized and the bore 28 of the female connector 10 is unpressurized or at a relatively low pressure. In this situation, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, it is possible during coupling for the higher pressure from the bore 48 to unseat the check valve 16 when the O-ring 39 just begins to seal against the check valve 16. If the check valve 16 is unseated from the poppet seat 22 by the higher pressure from the bore 48, the 0-ring 39 can become unsealed from the check valve 16. This unsealed condition could allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to escape from the coupler through the leakage path 23.

WO 88/08499 PCT/US87/00935 -9- In the modified coupler shown in FIGURE 6, the check valve 116 includes at least one channel 115 providing fluid communication between the chamber 126 and the channel 154. During coupling of the modified coupler illustrated in FIGURE 6, the coupling nut 150 forces the check valve 136 to extend over the check valve 116. If the higher pressure from the bore 158 unseats the check valve 116, pressurized fluid in the bore 148 passes through the port 144, through the channel 154, through the channel 115, and into the chamber 126. T'he additional fluid pressure in the chamber 126 causes the check valve 116 to reseat on the poppet seat 122, thereby allowing the O-ring 139 to maintain the seal against the check valve 116 and prevent any loss of hydraulic fluid during coupling. The remaining details of the coupling sequence of the modified coupler shown in FIGURE 6 are substantially the same as those described above in conjunction with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

Although the quick connect/disconnect hydraulic coupler of the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, various changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An hydraulic coupler, comprising: a first connector having a first axis and a first valve means for closing a first fluid port; a second connector having a second axis and a second valve means for closing a second fluid port; means for aligning said first and second axes and for coupling said first and second connectors without movement of said connectors along said axes; and means for forming a seal between said coupled connectors and for opening said first and second fluid ports.

2. The hydraulic coupler of Claim 1, wherein: said first valve means comprises a first annular check valve having a first biasing means for urging said first check valve against a first poppet seat; and said second valve means comprises a second annular check valve having a second biasing means for urging said second check valve against a second poppet seat.

_ 3. The hydraulic coupler of Claim 2, wherein said means for aligning and coupling said connectors comprises: an outside circumference of said first connector having outside threads thereon; and an annular coupling nut slidably disposed around said second check valve for rotation about and translation along said second axis, said nut having an inside circumference with threads thereon adapted to engage said outside threads of said first connector.

4. An hydraulic coupler, comprising: a first connector having a first axis and a first annular check valve for closing a first fluid port; 5 a second connector having a second axis and a second annular check valve for closing a second fluid port; and an annular coupling nut slidably disposed around said second check valve for rotation about and 0 translation along said second axis, said nut adapted, upon alignment of said axes, to engage said first connector without movement of said connectors along said axes, thereby urging said second check valve into contact with said first check valve to form a 5 seal therebetween and to open said first and second ports.

5. The hydraulic coupler of Claim 4, further comprising: a first valve seat disposed in said first connector; ζ a first means for biasing said first check valve against said first valve seat for closing said first fluid port; a second valve seat disposed in said second connector; and 0 a- second means for biasing said second check valve against said second seat for closing said second fluid port.

6. The hydraulic coupler of Claim 4, wherein: said first connector has a circumference with outside threads thereon; and said annular coupling nut has an inside circumference with threads thereon adapted to engage said outside threads of said first connector.

7. An hydraulic coupler for quick connection and disconnection, comprising: a female connector having a first axis, a first poppet seat, a first fluid port, and a first annular check valve, said first check valve slidably disposed within said female connector for translation along said first axis? a first means for biasing said first check valve against said first poppet seat to close said first

1 0 fluid port? a male connector having a second axis, a second poppet seat, a second fluid port, and a second annular check valve, said second check valve slidably disposed around said male connector for translation ^5 along said second axis and having a means for forming a seal with said first check valve; a second means for biasing said second check valve against said second poppet seat to close said second fluid port; and 20 an annular coupling nut slidably disposed around said second annular check valve for rotation about and translation along said second axis, said coupling nut adapted to align said axes, to engage said female connector, and to urge said second check valve into 25 contact with said first check valve to form said

-seal, unseat said first and second check valves, and open said first and second fluid ports.

8. The hydraulic coupler of Claim 8, wherein said coupling nut is further adapted to align said axes and engage said female connector without movement of said male and female connectors along said axes.