A quick-connect coupling for interconnecting only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent connection of mismatched lines where there are matched and mismatched delivery and supply lines. The coupling includes first and second coupling members that are releasably slidably, axially interfitted with their passageways in fluid communication. In the disclosed embodiment of a coupling for use in a chemical extraction system, one coupling member is a male member connected to the supply lines in the typical fifty gallon drum and the other coupling member is a female coupling member connected to the delivery lines. Key coding elements on the coupling members are movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines are matched but are precluded from moving into matched interengagement when the lines are mismatched. If a match exists, the coding elements interfit without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement. Latches in the coupling are allowed by the key coding to move into latching positions when the key coding elements match, but are precluded by the key coding from moving into latching positions when there is a mismatch. The coupling members are coupled by axially thrusting the members together whereupon the latches move out to allow interfitting and then return to latching positions. The coupling members are uncoupled by simultaneously pressing inwardly on the latches on the outside of the coupling and pulling the coupling members apart.
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12. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
first and second coupling members having fluid passageways and being releasably axially movable into interfitted relationships with said passageways in fluid communication, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line; key coding elements being movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but being precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, there being no relative movement between one of the key coding elements and one of the coupling members during movement of the coupling members into matched interengagement, and a non-threading latch operable irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members and latching the coupling members together when the key coding members are in matched interengagement.
13. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
first and second coupling members having fluid passageways and being releasably axially movable into interfitted relationships with said passageways in fluid communication, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line; key coding elements being movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but being precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, there being no relative movement between one of the key coding elements and one of the coupling members during movement of the coupling members into matched interengagement; and a latch operable irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members, movable radially of the coupling members, and latching the coupling members together when the key coding elements are in matched interengagement.
15. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
first and second coupling members having fluid passageways and being releasably axially movable into interfitted relationship with said passageways in fluid communication, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line; key coding elements on the coupling members which are movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but which are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement and without relative axial movement between one of the coupling members and its coding element or elements; and a latch movable between a retaining position when the key coding elements are in matched engagement and releasably maintaining the coupling members in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position permitting separation of the coupling members.
1. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
first and second coupling members having fluid passageways and being releasably axially movable into interfitted relationship with said passageways in fluid communication, said coupling members having means connecting one of the coupling members to a supply line and the other coupling member to a delivery line, key coding means on the coupling members which are axially movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but which are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding means being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement and without relative axial movement between one of the coupling members and its key coding means, and latch connecting means movable between a retaining position when the key coding means are in matched engagement for releasably maintaining the coupling members in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position permitting separation of the coupling members.
0. 33. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed interconnected relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially slidably separable from each other, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, coding elements on the coupling members which are movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but which are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement and without relative axial movement between one of the coupling members and its coding element or elements, and a connecting mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate.
0. 35. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed interconnected relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially slidably separable from each other, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, a coding element or elements on the coupling members which are axially movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but which are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement and without relative axial movement between one of the coupling members and its coding element or elements, and a mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate.
9. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed interconnected relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially slidably separable from each other, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, a coding elements or elements on the coupling members which are axially movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but which are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement and without relative axial movement between one of the coupling members and its coding element or elements, and a latching mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate.
0. 23. A coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially separable from each other, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, one or more coding elements on each coupling member, the coding elements of the coupling members being movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but being precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements of the coupling members being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement, one of the coupling members and its one or more coding elements being axially and rotatably immovable relative to each other during said axial movement of the coupling members, and a latching mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate.
0. 34. A coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially separable from each other, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, one or more coding elements on each coupling member that is or are movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but is or are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements of the coupling members being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement, the coding element or elements on one of the coupling members being non-rotatable rotatable relative to its or their coupling member during said axial movement of the coupling members into matched interengagement, and a latching mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate.
0. 32. A quick-connect coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed interconnected relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially slidably separable from each other, one of the coupling members being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, coding elements on the coupling members which are movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but which are precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements being axially movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement, and a coupling mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate, the coupling mechanism having latching and unlatched positions and including a biasing member yieldably biasing the mechanism into one of said positions without applying biasing force against the coding elements on one of the coupling members.
0. 22. A coupling for enabling interconnection of only matching fluid delivery and supply lines while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched lines notwithstanding the presence of plurality of delivery and supply lines some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched, comprising:
male and female coupling members having fluid passageways and being interconnected in sealed relationship with said passageways in fluid communication but being releasably axially slidably separable from each other, one of the coupling member being connectable to a supply line and the other coupling member being connectable to a delivery line, each coupling member terminating in an end face that extends transversely of said passageways, a coding element on each coupling member extending axially of said passageways with the coding element on at least one of the coupling members extending axially endwardly of the end face of its coupling member, the coding elements being movable into matched interengagement when the supply and delivery lines connected to the coupling members are matched but being precluded from moving into such a matched interengagement when said lines are mismatched, said coding elements of the coupling members being axially, movable into said matched interengagement without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement, and a non-threading latching mechanism having a retaining position when the coding elements are in matched engagement in which the coupling members are maintained in an interconnected relationship and a releasing position in which the coupling members are permitted to separate.
2. The coupling of
wherein said latch connecting means is precluded from moving into retaining position if the coupling members are not in matched engagement.
3. The coupling of
wherein the key coding means includes opposed end walls on the coupling members extending transversely of the passageway, and wherein said walls have configurations selected from the group of configurations consisting of one endwardly extending arcuate element lying along a path circumscribing said passageway, a plurality of endwardly extending radially spaced arcuate elements lying along paths circumscribing said passageway, and no such elements.
4. The coupling of
wherein one of said coupling members has drainage vents therein extending lengthwise of and outside of the passageway, and wherein the element or elements on said one of the coupling members is segmented to provide drainage gutters extending radially relative to the passageway and aligned with said vents.
5. The coupling of
wherein the key coding means includes opposed end walls on the coupling members extending transversely of the passageway, wherein the key coding means includes a plurality of arcuate segments and slots extending endwardly of each end wall toward the other end wall, and wherein if the segments and slots interfit with each other the couplings are matched and if the segments on one wall contact the other wall and are prevented from interfitting, the couplings are mismatched.
6. The coupling of
wherein the coding means are radially spaced, axially extending ring segments on the coupling members that interfit with each other when the number and spacing of the ring segments on the coupling members are the same and conflict with each other when the number or spacing of the ring segments on the coupling members are different.
7. The coupling of
wherein the ring segments are circumferentially spaced and arranged in a plurality of groups of radially spaced ring segments, wherein the ring segments having endwardly disposed faces that are axially spaced from a common plane extending perpendicularly of the passageway; and wherein said spacing of the faces is graduated radially outwardly from the passageway.
8. The coupling of
wherein the coupling members are relatively axially movable between an uncoupled position completely separated from each other and a coupled position in full interengagement with each other, wherein the latch connecting means is operable to move into retaining position only when the coupling members are in full interengagement, wherein the key coding means has coding elements on the coupling members that contact each other if the coupling members are mismatched and prevent the coupling members from moving into full interengagement, and wherein the key coding means has coding elements on the coupling members that interfit with each other if the coupling members are matched and allow the coupling members to move into full interengagement.
10. The coupling of
wherein the latch mechanism is precluded from moving into retaining position if the coupling members do not match.
11. The coupling of
wherein the coding elements include opposed end walls on the coupling members extending transversely of the passageway, and wherein said end walls have coded configurations that are complementary and interfit when the coupling members are matched.
14. The coupling of
16. The coupling of
wherein said latch is precluded from moving into retaining position if the coupling members are not in matched engagement.
17. The coupling of
wherein the key coding elements include opposed end walls on the coupling members extending transversely of the passageway; and wherein said walls have configurations selected from the group of configurations consisting of including one endwardly extending arcuate element lying along a path circumscribing said passageway, a plurality of endwardly extending arcuate elements lying along paths circumscribing said passageway, and no such elements.
18. The coupling of
wherein the key coding elements include opposed end walls on the coupling members extending transversely of the passageway; wherein the key coding elements include a plurality of arcuate elements and arcuate slots extending endwardly of each end wall toward the other end wall; and wherein if the arcuate elements and slots interfit with each other the couplings are matched and if the arcuate elements on one wall contact the other wall and are prevented from interfitting, the couplings are mismatched.
19. The coupling of
wherein the coding elements are radially spaced, axially extending ring segments on the coupling members that interfit with each other when the number and spacing of the ring segments on the coupling members are the same and conflict with each other when the number or spacing of the ring segments on the coupling members are different.
20. The coupling of
wherein the ring segments are circumferentially spaced and are arranged in a plurality of groups of radially spaced ring segments; wherein the ring segments have endwardly disposed faces that are axially spaced from a common plane extending perpendicularly of the passageway; and wherein said spacing of the faces is graduated radially outwardly from the passageway.
21. The coupling of
wherein the coupling members are relatively axially movable between an uncoupled position completely separated from each other and a coupled position in full interengagement with each other; wherein the latch is operable to move into retaining position only when the coupling members are in full interengagement; wherein the key coding elements include coding elements on the coupling members that contact each other if the coupling members are mismatched and prevent the coupling members from moving into full interengagement; and wherein the key coding elements include coding elements on the coupling members that interfit with each other if the coupling members are matched and allow the coupling members to move into full interengagement.
0. 24. The coupling of
wherein the coding element or elements on at least one of the couplings is integral with its or their coupling member.
0. 25. The coupling of
wherein each coupling member has an end, and wherein the coding element or elements on at least one of the couplings is formed in the end of its or their coupling member.
0. 26. The coupling of
wherein the coupling members have opposed end walls on which the coding elements are located.
0. 27. The coupling of
wherein the coding element or elements on at least one of the coupling members is or are integrally formed on its or their coupling member.
0. 28. The coupling of
wherein the coding elements are arcuate and radially spaced from each other.
0. 29. The coupling of
wherein the latch is non-threading.
0. 30. The coupling of
wherein the latch includes a first latching element on one of the coupling members and movable radially of the passageways between latching and unlatching positions, and wherein the latch also includes a second latching element on the other coupling member disposed circumferentially of the passageway and releasably receiving the first latching element in its latching position when the coupling members are in said interconnected relationship.
0. 31. The coupling of
wherein the latch includes a biasing member yieldably urging the first latching element into latching position.
0. 36. The coupling of
wherein the coding elements include an arcuate projection on one of the coupling members and an arcuate slot on the other coupling member.
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The present invention pertains to a fluid coupling and system for use thereof and more particularly to a quick-connect and -disconnect fluid coupling having coupling members that are quickly connectable and disconnectable and to a system which incorporates in the coupling different matching key-coded elements that ensure not only quick connection but connection of only those coupling members that match.
In various industries, it is necessary to use many chemicals in the manufacturing process. For example, in the semiconductor industry, some fifteen to twenty liquid chemicals are typically stored in adjacent fifty-gallon drums from which they are dispensed during the manufacture of the semiconductors. In the usual installation, sets of umbilical delivery lines for various chemicals are suspended above the drums with a particular set dedicated to a particular chemical. Each set of delivery lines is connected to its associated drum by a coupling which has one coupling member on the delivery lines and a second coupling on the drum.
As each drum is emptied during the manufacturing process, a full drum is brought in to replace the empty one. Accordingly, the coupling members must be repeatedly connected and disconnected. Because of the incompatibility of the chemicals, it is critical that each set of delivery lines be connected only to its intended drum to avoid unsafe mixing and undesired contamination. Moreover, to maintain productivity, such connections and disconnections must be made quickly and routinely by production personnel.
To insure correct connection of delivery lines to their intended drums, the known chemical extraction apparatus uses fluid couplings that incorporate matching coding elements on the coupling members. Examples of such fluid couplings and their coding devices are shown and described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,298 to Grant et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,015 Rauworth et al. A significant disadvantage of these known couplings, however, is that they cannot be as quickly connected and disconnected as is desired. Although referred to as quick-connect couplings, they use threads to establish the connection. Repeated threading and unthreading of couplings over a production run consumes a significant amount of valuable time and also can produce additional delays if the threads become fouled and otherwise fail to mesh properly. Moreover, the coding devices of these known couplings require relative rotation of the coded parts to test for a match and then to make the match or to realize that the coupling members are mismatched.
Fluid couplings that can be connected and disconnected without threading are of course available and are truly quick-connect and -disconnect couplings. Examples of known quick-connect couplings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,125 to Blenkush and U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,725 to Meyer et al. Such known couplings of this type, however, are not suitable for the chemical extraction industry or other industries where matched connections are mandatory since they make no provision for coding. Moreover, the latching mechanisms used in such known quick-connect couplings do not lend themselves to balanced and dependable two-handed operation by personnel in production processes such as described above.
A quick-connect coupling is provided for enabling interconnection of only matching coupling members while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of mismatched coupling members notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of coupling members some of which are matched and some of which are mismatched. The coupling includes first and second coupling members that are releasably slidably, axially interfitted with their passageways in fluid communication. Key coding elements on the coupling members are movable into matched interengagement when the coupling members are matched but are precluded from moving into matched interengagement when they are mismatched. If a match exists, the coding elements interfit without relative rotation of the coupling members and irrespective of the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to such interengagement. Latches in the coupling are allowed by the key coding to move into latching positions when the key coding elements match but are precluded by the key coding from moving into latching positions when there is a mismatch. The subject key coding system is especially advantageous in providing a user with immediate visual indications of whether particular coupling members are matched or mismatched. The coupling members are coupled by simply axially thrusting the members together whereupon the latches move out to allow interfitting and then return to latching positions. The coupling members are uncoupled by simultaneously pressing inwardly on the latches on the outside of the coupling and pulling the coupling members apart.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved quick-connect coupling.
Another object is to provide a quick-connect and disconnect coupling for use in a chemical extraction system involving drums of chemicals and delivery lines suspended above the drums.
A further object is to improve the productivity and safety of dispensing a plurality of incompatible chemicals through different delivery lines from different drums in a manufacturing process.
A still further object is to provide an improved coding system for enabling desired interconnection of only matched coupling members of a fluid coupling.
Yet another object is to incorporate a coding system for a quick-connect coupling that prevents coupling of mismatched coupling members while still allowing quick connection and disconnection of the coupling.
An additional object is to code fluid coupling members so that, apart from a visual inspection, testing for a match and establishing a coupling is accomplished without relative rotation and solely by axial movement of the coupling members and without regard to the relative rotational positions of the coupling members prior to or during interfitting thereof.
A still further object is to provide a key-coded, quick-connect coupling that does not require swiveling of its coupling members for connection but permits the parts being coupled to swivel without affecting the rapidity of interconnecting matched coupling members and without affecting operation of coupling.
A further object is to minimize the time required dependably to connect matched coupling members of a coded coupling or to determine that the coupling members are mismatched and will not couple.
Another object is to provide a coded quick-connect coupling composed of parts that are molded or machined of plastic materials and that has molded-in identification of the codes.
An additional object is to provide a key coding system for a coupling that enables many different combinations of matches and mismatches.
Yet another object is to provide a molded one-piece latch for a fluid coupling.
A further object is to provide a dual latch assembly including pair of duplicate molded latches for a coupling that can be made using the same mold.
Another object is to provide a symmetrical latching mechanism for a quick-connect coupling.
An additional object is to provide a quick-connect coupling which has dual latching members on one of the coupling members that engage latching elements on both sides of the other coupling member in the coupled or latched condition.
A still further object is to provide a latching mechanism for a quick-connect coupling in which the external appearance of the latches indicates the coupled or uncoupled status of the coupling.
Still another object is to provide integral molded latches for a fluid coupling in which resiliently flexible biasing arms for the latches are not exposed externally of the coupling.
Another object is to isolate the latches of a quick-connect coupling from the fluids carried by the coupling.
A further object is provide a quick-connect fluid coupling in which latches are captured in the coupling by the assembly thereof.
Yet an additional object is to provide a quick-connect coupling which automatically snaps into coupled position upon axially thrusting the coupling members together but which requires simultaneous, two-handed pressure on opposite sides of the coupling to release the coupling members.
A further object is to provide a coded, quick-connect coupling with improved sealing capabilities.
Yet another object is to provide an interactive key coding system and latching mechanism in a quick-connect coup ling wherein the coupling members cannot be coupled unless they match.
Still further, an object is to minimize the twisting and tangling of the umbilical lines that hang above a plurality of drums of chemicals used in a chemical manufacturing process and that are connected and disconnected to and from selected drums.
A further object is to minimize the manufacturing costs of a quick-connect coupling.
Another object is to provide a fluid coupling where in first and second coupling members respectively connected to a source of fluid and to delivery lines are repeatedly uncoupled and recoupled and wherein fluid is allowed to drain back into the source and out of the coupling during such uncoupling and recoupling.
Still another object is to provide a fluid coupling for use on a typical fifty-five gallon drum containing liquid for the chemical processing industry which has an extractor drum insert and bung that are compatible with the bung hole, rim, and other characteristics of such a drum, and which can withstand the drop tests required of such drums and their standard bungs.
A further object is to facilitate the assembly of the parts of one of the coupling members that is incorporated in the extractor head of a chemical extraction coupling.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.
With particular reference to
The subject coupling 25 (
The chemical extraction apparatus (
The quick-connect fluid coupling 25 (
The extractor-drum insert or bung insert (EDI) 62 is best shown in detailed cross-section in FIG. 1. In describing the orientation of the EDI as well as the other parts of the subject coupling 25, a vertical orientation of the coupling is assumed since this is its normal position in use. It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to use in a vertical position, but such reference is convenient for descriptive purposes. The EDI is made from a corrosion-resistant material, preferably a fluoropolymer plastic such as "Teflon" PFA, that is, perfluoroalkoxy, sold by the DuPont Corporation among others. In fact, all parts of the fluid coupling, except for the latches 64 and 66, are made of such a corrosion-resistant plastic. Most of the parts of the coupling may be either molded or machined as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
The EDI 62 (
The key-coding system 70 of the fluid coupling 25 (
As will be described in greater detail as the description proceeds, the characteristics of these coding rings 120 determine the code of any particular coupling 25. One of these characteristics is the number of coding rings employed in any given coupling. For example, five coding rings are shown except in
Each coding ring 120 (
Since each ring 120 includes three circumferentially spaced keys 130 (
The outer wall 110 of the EDI 62 (
The inner surface 160 of the outer wall 110 (
Having thus described the extractor drum insert or EDI 62, reference is now made to the extractor head 60 (
The shroud 198 (
The lower part 192 of the EH 60 (
The lower part 192 of the EH 60 (
The base wall 244 of the lower part 192 of the EH 60 includes a frusto-conical ceiling surface 270 (
The coding rings 276 (
As previously mentioned, this EDI 62 and EH 60 are molded parts. It is to be recognized (
Prior to explaining the assembly of the upper and lower parts 190 and 192 of the EH 60, reference is made to a description of the upper and lower, that is dual, latches 64 and 66 which are a part of the subject quick-release fluid coupling 25. With reference to
Each latch 64, 66 (
Each latch 64, 66 (
As previously stated, the upper and lower latches 64 and 66 are identical, but as shown in
In their stacked overlaid assembly, the openings 310 of the latches 64, 66 are in alignment, although not congruent, in the latched positions (FIGS. 5 and 12). That is, the latches are slidable longitudinally of and against each other, so that normally the biasing arms 330 press outwardly on the actuators 340 to force the actuators outwardly, wherein the openings 310 are still aligned but not congruent. In such latching positions, the latching segment 314 of the upper latch 64 projects inwardly over the clearance segment 312 of the lower latch (FIG. 11), and the latching segment 314 of the lower latch projects inwardly under the clearance segment of the upper latch. On the other hand, when the actuators are manually pressed inwardly toward each other so as to bring the biasing arms 330 against the bodies 290 of the latches (
Having thus described the upper and lower parts 190 and 192 of the EH 60 and the latches 64 and 66, the complete assembly of these elements is now described. It will be understood that the assembly being described at this point is part of the manufacture of the coupling and is not an assembly that occurs during use of the coupling 25. With reference to
As the arms 246 (
In
As referred to above, multiple key combinations are provided by the key-coding system 70 of the subject invention. In the disclosed embodiment, these combinations are achieved by varying the number of key coding rings 120 and 276 and slots 140 and 278, their heights, and their depths (or the thickness of the base walls 106 and 244), as shown in
It should be noted that one of the codes in the key-coding system 70 of the present invention is a code in which the configurations of the floor surface 108 and the ceiling 270 are smooth and without keys or key slots, as shown in FIG. 19F. Under such an absence of keys and key slots on both the EH 60 and the EDI 62, the ceiling surface fits flush against the floor surface thereby resulting in a match and a coupling of the EH and the EDI. On the other hand if, for example, the ceiling surface has no keys or key slots and the floor surface does (
As examples of coding of a plurality of different extractor heads (EHs) 60 with a plurality of different extractor drum inserts (EDIs) 62 in various drums 28, the following table is provided. From left to right, column 1 sets forth the chemical key-code number which designates matching EH to EDI combinations. This number together with any other part numbers desired is molded in on matching EHs and EDIs. Column 2 gives an indication of the type of chemicals in the various drums, sixteen in the table example. Columns 3 and 4 give the number of key-coding rings 120 (and therefore key slots 140) on the EDI 62 and the number of key-coding rings 276 (and therefore key slots 278) on the EH 60, respectively, or the absence of such rings and slots (in the first row). Column 5 indicates the Fig. No. of the drawings herein which show the matches where five coding rings are used, it being noted that only a five key ring plan is shown in the drawings. Thus, rows one through six provide Fig. Nos., but rows seven through fifteen do not since these other coding plans involve different maximum numbers of key rings 120 and 276 with different key widths from that in the illustrated five key ring plan.
For example, in the five key code ring plan shown, and referring to the table, with chemical key code number 0, as illustrated in
Although not illustrated in the drawings, with chemical key-code numbers seven through ten in the table, four coding rings 120, 276 are provided, with the keys and slots 130, 140, 282, 272 having a greater width than in the illustrated five key ring plan, since fewer rings are provided. Still further, chemical key-code numbers eleven through thirteen, in this table example, have three coding rings and slots which involve still greater key and slot widths than above. From the foregoing, chemical key-code numbers fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen in the table are believed to be understood.
A very significant feature of the coding system provided by the present invention, however, is that an addition to the molded-in code numbers, all an operator need do, to determine if a match or a mismatch exists, is merely to look at the ends of the EH and EDI to see if they have the same, or different numbers of rings, or none at all.
Although the key-coding examples in the table below provide sixteen different combinations, it will be understood that many other combinations can be provided by varying the configurations of the floor and ceiling surfaces 108 and 270 as by varying key and slot widths, wall angles, and heights and various combinations of these.
CODING EXAMPLES | ||||
KEY CODING SYSTEM | ||||
1 | ||||
CHEMICAL | 2 | |||
KEYCODE | TYPE OF | 3 | 4 | 5 |
NUMBER | CHEMICAL | EDI 62 | EH 60 | FIG. No. |
0 | A | 0 | 0 | 19F |
1 | B | 1 | 1 | 19E |
2 | C | 2 | 2 | 19D |
3 | D | 3 | 3 | 19C |
4 | E | 4 | 4 | 19B |
5 | F | 5 | 5 | 19A |
6 | G | 1 | 1 | not shown |
7 | H | 2 | 2 | not shown |
8 | I | 3 | 3 | not shown |
9 | J | 4 | 4 | not shown |
10 | K | 1 | 1 | not shown |
11 | L | 2 | 2 | not shown |
12 | M | 3 | 3 | not shown |
13 | N | 1 | 1 | not shown |
14 | O | 2 | 2 | not shown |
15 | P | 1 | 1 | not shown |
With reference to
When it is desired to connect a set of delivery hoses, not shown, to a particular drum 28, the EH 60 connected to these hoses is manually grasped, conveniently by the ribs 221, and brought down to a position immediately above the EDI 62 in the particular drum. At this time, the condition of the EH and EDI can be visualized by reference to
Thus, with reference to
As the EH 60 moves down into EDI 62 (FIG. 13A), the lower guide plates 224 and the lower flanges of the tracks 222 move opposite to and outside of the upper rim 176 of the EDI. Continued downward movement causes the edge at the lower beveled surface 318 (
At the same time as the lower latch 66 enters the upper latching groove 182, the latching segment 314 of the upper latch 64 makes initial contact with the upper rim 176, between the lower edge of the lower beveled surface 318 of the upper latching segment and the upper latching surface 178 of the upper rim (FIG. 13B), similar to what is shown for the lower latch in FIG. 15. Also, at this time, the lower latch makes initial contact with the lower rim 177, also seen in FIG. 13B.
Continued downward movement of the EH 60 (
Thus, when the upper rim 176 is fully seated (FIG. 13C), the latching segments 314 of the upper and lower latches 64 and 66 move under the upper and lower rims 176 and 177 respectively into their coupled or latching positions thereby coupling the EH 60 to the EDI 62. When in such coupled position, all of the O-rings are effective to provide fluid-tight seals, and the spider 84 opens the poppet valve 360. It is important to note that in the coupled condition, the dual latching segments of the dual latches on the EH firmly engage the EDI about substantially its entire circumference. By increasing the arcuate lengths of the latching segments to one hundred eighty degrees each, as above noted, the latches will engage the entire circumference.
If the key coding on the EH 60 does not match the key coding on the EDI 62, it will be impossible to fit the seat 228 down onto the upper latching rim 176 and thus it will be impossible to complete the coupling of the EH and the EDI. Since the upper and lower key codes do not match, the ceiling surfaces 270 will be held above the floor surface 108 a vertical distance which precludes the seating of the upper rim and the movement of the lataches into the latching grooves 182 and 183. The lower latching segment 314 of the lower latch 66 will have moved below the upper rim 176, but the lower latch will not be allowed to move under the lower rim 177 nor will the upper latch be allowed to move past and under the upper latching rim 177. Full coupling cannot be achieved, a condition that will be immediately recognized by the operator. When full coupling is not achieved, however, if for no other reason, the actuators 340 will remain partly depressed (as shown in each of the mismatching
When full coupling is achieved, however, as shown in
When it is desired to uncouple the EH 60 from the EDI 62 (FIGS. 14A-14D), the operator grasps the EH with both hands and simultaneously presses inwardly on the push-button actuators 340 thereby moving the latching segments 314 from the position of
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications, substitutions and equivalents may be used therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
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