FLUIDIC CONNECTION

专利摘要:
The invention relates to a fluid connection, comprising connection elements (1, 101), comprising respectively: a body (5, 105), a main valve (20, 120), movable for opening and closing a main passage (30, 130) through the body, a safety valve (50, 150), movable to open and close a secondary passage (40, 140) through the main valve, and a pusher (70, 170) for movement of the security. To reduce leaks and reduce the coupling effort, the fluid connection is configured so that, when coupling the coupling elements: a seal cooperates with the bodies before the safety valves of the two coupling elements connector are moved to their open position, and at least one of the pushers pushes its main valve to its open position, once the associated safety valve is in the open position.
公开号:FR3082588A1
申请号:FR1855267
申请日:2018-06-15
公开日:2019-12-20
发明作者:Alain-Christophe Tiberghien；Christophe Durieux；Romain MAYER
申请人:Staeubli Faverges SCA；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

Fluid connection
The present invention relates to a fluid connection.
The present invention relates to the technical field of fluid pipe fittings, preferably of the “quick fitting” type, in particular of pressurized liquids.
The connection elements of the invention make it possible to quickly and easily ensure a tight connection for transporting a fluid. Two complementary type connecting elements, for example male and female type, are adapted to be coupled in order to connect two systems, such as pipes, tanks, or machines. In practice, each connector element comprises a body which delimits an internal conduit for the passage of the fluid. More particularly, the invention finds its application for connecting a cooling system, in particular for electronic equipment. One of the connection elements is connected to a pressurized fluid line located upstream. In the case of the above-mentioned cooling system, the connection element most often conducts or contains, as a fluid, a heat-transfer liquid, for example water optionally comprising an additive, which can reach a pressure of approximately 20 bars in uncoupled configuration of the connecting element. This pressure level induces a high coupling force of the coupling elements, which is difficult to reach manually.
US 3,498,324 describes a quick connector, comprising two elements, one comprising a female body for receiving a male body from the other element, each body being traversed by a main fluid passage. In its respective main passage, each element includes a main valve. Relative to the body of the element concerned, the main valve moves between a closed position, towards the front of the element, in which the main valve closes the main passage, and an open position, towards the rear. , in which the main valve allows the passage of the fluid through the main passage. A spring constantly returns the main valve to the closed position. Each main valve defines a secondary passage within which a secondary valve is housed. Compared to the associated main valve, the secondary valve also moves between a closed position, towards the front, in which the secondary valve closes the secondary passage, and an open position, towards the rear, in which the valve secondary allows the fluid to pass through the secondary passage. Another spring constantly recalls the secondary valve in the closed position. Each secondary valve has a portion which, in the closed position of the secondary valve, protrudes slightly from the end of the secondary passage in the main valve, towards the front.
However, in this known connection, the seal between male and female body is only ensured during the coupling after the opening of the secondary valves, so that a leak of the pressurized fluid necessarily occurs, of transiently, during the passage between the uncoupled configuration and the coupled configuration, with the aim of reducing the pressure to facilitate coupling. This leakage can prove to be detrimental, in particular in the case where it is desired to connect an electrically conductive liquid network, such as a heat transfer liquid, in an environment where electrical equipment is present.
Furthermore, in this known connection, the main valves are opened by bringing their respective front ends into contact during mating, so that the main valves push each other backwards, up to their open position. Thus, during coupling, the fluid communication between, on the one hand, the secondary passages and, on the other hand, the intermediate volume defined by the male and female bodies fitted, is obstructed by bringing the respective ends of the main valves. Pressure reduction is therefore limited as soon as the ends of the main valves come into contact. The pressure remaining relatively high, it generates forces tending to oppose the coupling of the fitting.
The invention aims to solve in particular the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art, by proposing a new fluidic connection whose coupling leaks and the coupling force are reduced, even in the event of high pressure in one of the connecting elements.
The subject of the invention is a fluid connection, comprising a male connection element and a female connection element, each connection element comprising respectively:
- a body, defining, along a longitudinal central axis, an internal conduit comprising a front volume, opening at the front of the body, and a rear chamber,
- a main valve, movable in the body between an open position, in which a main passage is open between the main valve and the body, for the passage of the fluid between the rear chamber and the front volume, and a closed position , in which a closing part of the main valve abuts against the body and closes the main passage,
- a main spring, which returns the main valve to its closed position,
- a safety valve, movable relative to the main valve between a closed position and an open position of a secondary passage, formed through the main valve, between the rear chamber and the front volume,
a secondary spring which bears on the safety valve and on the main valve and which returns the safety valve to its closed position in front abutment against the main valve, and
- a pusher, movable in the main valve between an advanced configuration, in which the safety valve is in the closed position, and a retracted configuration, in which the pusher moves the safety valve in the open position, the fluid connection being configured to evolve between:
- a decoupled configuration, in which the bodies of the male and female connection elements are separated from each other and the main and safety valves of the two connection elements are in the closed position, and
- a coupled configuration, in which the front volume of the female connector element receives a front part of the body of the male connector element in the fitting and the main valves are in the open position.
One of the male coupling element and the female coupling element comprises at least one seal which cooperates with the body of the female coupling element and with the body of the male coupling element in configuration. mated.
When switching from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration, the pushers come axially into contact with each other and each pushbutton moves the associated safety valve to the open position, while the associated main valve is in closed position.
According to the invention, the fluidic connection is configured so that, when switching from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration:
- Said at least one seal cooperates with the body of the female coupling element and with the body of the male coupling element, before the safety valves of the two coupling elements are moved to their position d 'opening, and
- for at least one of the connecting elements, the pusher pushes the associated main valve towards its open position, once the associated safety valve is in the open position.
Thanks to the invention, the fact that, for at least one of the connecting elements, the main valve is pushed back to its open position by the pusher, it is ensured that the safety valve has moved to the open position and remains in the open position when the main valve opens and when the other safety valve opens, when switching from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration. Via each secondary passage, fluid communication is ensured between, on the one hand, each rear chamber and, on the other hand, an intermediate volume defined by the body of the female connector element and the front volume of the male connector. This allows the pressure in the rear chamber (s) to drop rapidly, so that the effort required for this coupling is reduced. Thanks to the arrangement of the seal, the seal of the intermediate volume is maximum in the coupled configuration, and during coupling, so as to limit any risk of leakage of the transported fluid.
Other optional and advantageous features of the invention are defined in the following:
- For at least one of the connecting elements:
o the main valve comprises a front extension, crossed by openings for the passage of fluid at the level of the main passage in the open position of said main valve, and o the body of said connector element comprises an internal radial surface guiding radially the front extension in said body.
- The main spring of the connector element which includes the front extension is arranged radially between the body of said connector element and the front extension.
- The front extension is formed in the female connector element and the front extension is in axial contact with the front part of the body of the male connector element in the coupled configuration.
- When switching from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration, the pusher of each connection element comes into abutment against the associated main valve, and thus pushes the associated main valve towards its open position.
- For at least one of the connection elements, the secondary passage is open between the rear chamber and the front volume for any axial position of the pusher of said connection element relative to the associated main valve when said pusher is in the retracted configuration.
- For each of the two connecting elements, the plunger protrudes towards the front of the associated main valve, regardless of the axial position of said plunger relative to said main valve.
- For at least one of the connecting elements, the pusher is axially movable relative to the associated safety valve.
- At least one ball, housed both in a longitudinal groove of the main valve and in a peripheral groove of the pusher, forms a front stop of the pusher against the main valve in the advanced configuration of the pusher.
- The safety valve forms a sealing ball for the secondary passage.
- For at least one of the connecting elements, the pusher and the associated safety valve are axially integral.
- Each plunger comprises a front end surface, the front end surfaces of the two plungers being of complementary shape and configured to cooperate with each other, when the plungers are brought into contact with one another during the passage of the configuration uncoupled to the coupled configuration.
- One of the front end surfaces is convex and conical in shape centered on the longitudinal central axis of the connector element to which said front end surface belongs, while the other front end surface is concave and of complementary conical shape, centered on the longitudinal central axis of the other connecting element.
- In particular, the angles at the top of the conical front end surfaces are preferably equal.
- For at least one of the connecting elements:
the main valve comprises a front rod, extending in front of the obturating part and housing the pusher, the front rod being of reduced diameter compared to the obturating part; and the length of said pusher is greater than twice the internal diameter of the front volume of said connector element.
- For at least one of the connecting elements:
o the connection element comprises a rear part, integral with the body, and comprising a skirt, o the main spring of said connection element is supported on the rear part and on the main valve of said connection element, o said main valve comprises a rear rod which extends behind the sealing part and which is guided radially in the rear part, and o the skirt of the rear part is radially interposed between said main spring and the fluid circulating in the rear chamber of said element coupling in coupled configuration.
- The body of the male connector element comprises a cylindrical front external surface and a cylindrical intermediate external surface, the intermediate external surface being offset towards the rear with respect to the front external surface and of diameter greater than the diameter of the external surface before; the body of the female connector element comprises a cylindrical front internal surface and a cylindrical intermediate internal surface, which partially delimit the front volume of the female connector element, the intermediate internal surface being offset rearward relative to the front internal surface and of diameter smaller than the diameter of the front internal surface; and in the coupled configuration, the intermediate external surface is fitted with the front internal surface and the front external surface is fitted with the intermediate internal surface.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description below. In the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a male connector element belonging to a fluidic connector according to a first embodiment according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a cross section of a detail of Figure 1, along a section line II-II;
Figure 3 is a detail of Figure 1 according to frame III, shown on a larger scale; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an exploded view of part of the male connector element of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a female connector element belonging to the fluidic connector of the previous figures;
Figure 6 is a cross section of a detail of Figure 5, along a section line VI-VI;
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are longitudinal sections, in the same plane, of the fluid connection of the previous figures, showing the male connector element and the female connector element in three different configurations; and FIGS. 10 and 11 are longitudinal sections, in the same plane, of a fluid connection according to a second embodiment according to the invention, showing the fluid connection according to two different configurations.
For the rest, we define by "associated" two parts of the same connecting element.
Considering the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, a fluid connection is shown. This fluidic connection comprises two connection elements, namely a male connection element 1, represented alone in FIG. 1, as well as a female connection element 101, represented alone in FIG. 5. The connection elements 1 and 101 are complementary. The male connector element 1 is intended to be fluidly connected to one end of the fluid pipe 3, illustrated in broken lines in the figure
1. The female connector element 101 is intended to be fluidly connected to one end of the fluid pipe 103, illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 5.
This connection is advantageously qualified as a "quick connection", and allows fluid coupling, that is to say, connection, and uncoupling, that is to say separation, of the ends of fluid lines 3 and 103 , without tools.
In FIGS. 1 and 5, the connection elements 1 and 101 are shown in an uncoupled configuration from the connection, which is obtained when the connection elements 1 and 101 are separated.
The connector shown in Figures 1 to 9 is intended in particular for the connection of pipe ends of a pressurized fluid, in particular a liquid with heat transfer function, comprising for example water and a suitable additive. However, other types of fluids can be transported via the connector of Figures 1 to 9.
The fluid pressure can reach approximately 20 bars in one of the fluid lines 3 and 103, when the connector is in the uncoupled configuration.
As illustrated in particular in FIG. 1, the male connector element 1 comprises a body 5, called "male body", of generally tubular shape. The body 5 comprises a front part 7 and a rear part 9, which, in the present example, are respectively formed by two parts assembled with the aid of a seal.
The male body 5 defines an internal conduit 11 extending along a longitudinal central axis X11 of the connection element 1. For any characteristic of the connection element 1, the term "axial" denotes a parallel direction to the X11 axis and by "radial" a radial direction relative to the X11 axis.
The male connector element 1 defines, parallel to the axis X11, a front direction F11 and a rear direction B11 opposite the front direction F11. Direction F11 is directed towards the side of the front part 7 and direction B11 towards the side of the rear part 9. The expressions “front >> and“ rear >>, attributed to any characteristic of the connecting element 1, refer to respectively to directions F11 and B11.
The internal conduit 11 passes through the body 5 right through, opening out at the front and at the rear of the body 5. The internal conduit 11 comprises a rear chamber 13, opening at the rear of the body 5. The conduit fluid 3, connected to the rear part 9, is connected to the opening of the rear chamber 13.
The conduit 11 comprises a front volume 15, opening at the front of the body 5. Preferably, the front volume 15 is, essentially or all, annular and coaxial with the axis X11.
As explained in the following, the connecting element 1 comprises two valves, comprising a main valve 20 and a safety valve 50.
The main male valve 20 is housed inside the duct 11. The main valve 20 is movable relative to the body 5, in translation parallel to the axis X11 between a closed position and an open position. In Figures 1, 7 and 8, the closed position of the main valve 20 is illustrated. In Figure 9, the open position of the main valve 20 is illustrated.
In the closed position, the main valve 20 is in axial abutment, that is to say in abutment parallel to the axis X11, in the direction F11, against a seat 22 formed by the male body 5, in the conduit 11 , so as to close the fluid communication between the rear chamber 13 and the front volume 15 at a main passage 30 between the main valve 20 and the body 5. More generally, the seat 22 separates the rear chamber 13 and the volume before 15.
In the closed position of the main valve 20, a seal 26, for example made of elastomer, is interposed axially between the main valve 20 and the body 5. In particular, this seal 26 is housed in an external groove of the valve main 20 and cooperates axially with the body 5, in particular its seat 22, in the closed position of the main valve 20.
The opening position of the main valve 20 is moved back, that is to say is offset in the direction B11, relative to its closed position. In the open position, the main valve 20 is away from the seat 22 in the direction B11. As shown in FIG. 9, in the open position, the main passage 30, for the fluid, is formed between a sealing part 29 of the main valve 20 and the body 5. The sealing part 29 carries the seal 26. In position opening, the main valve 20 thus allows fluid communication between the rear chamber 13 and the front volume 15, which is done through the main passage 30. The main passage 30 extends around the main valve 20, in particular around the closing part 29, when the main valve 20 is in the open position. In particular, the main passage 30 is an annular passage formed between the main valve 20 and the seat 22.
In the present example, as is particularly visible in FIG. 4, the main valve 20 comprises, distributed axially, a main body 21, housing the seal 26, and a rear body 23, located in the direction B11 relative to the body 21 and fixedly assembled with the body 21, in particular by screwing the body 23 into the body 21. The rear part of the main body 21 forms the closing part 29. The main valve 20 of the present example further comprises an intermediate body 25, being itself even fixed inside the rear body 23, in abutment against the rear body 23 in the direction B11.
In the closed position, axially, the main body 21 extends essentially in the front volume 15, in front of the seat 22. The main body 21 comprises a front rod 27, which extends in front of the sealing part 29 and which is of reduced outside diameter, in particular in comparison with the outside diameter of the sealing part 29, at the level of the seal 26. The front rod 27 is preferably coaxial with the longitudinal central axis X11.
The main valve 20 could be formed in one piece, or by a sealed assembly of bodies such as the bodies 21, 23 and 25 or of different bodies, nevertheless having the front rod 27, the sealing part 29, and any other characteristic currently described.
The connecting element 1 comprises a main mechanical spring 24, which pushes the main valve 20 against the seat 22, that is to say in the closed position, in the direction F11. The main spring 24 is preferably a helical compression spring, coaxial with the axis X11. The main spring 24 exerts an elastic return force, parallel to the axis X11, on the main valve 20, tending to push the main valve 20 in the direction F11 relative to the body 5.
For this, the main spring 24 is advantageously disposed at the rear of the main valve 20 so as to bear on the main valve 20 in the direction F11. The main spring 24 also bears on the body 5 in the direction B11, in particular against a rear part 28 of the connecting element 1, integral with the body 5, in particular in the direction B11 and in the radial direction, and disposed at inside the rear chamber 13. More precisely, the main spring 24 is pressed against an axial surface 33 of the rear part 28, turned in the direction F11 and the rear part 28 is pushed back by the main spring 24 against the body 5 in the direction B11.
Preferably, the main valve 20 forms a rear rod 32 which extends at the rear of the sealing part 29. This rear rod 32 is preferably coaxial with the axis X11. In the example, this rear rod 32 is formed by the rear body 23. The rear rod 32 slides axially in a through hole 34 in the rear part 28. In other words, the rear rod 32 is engaged and guided radially in the rear part 28. The rear rod 32 thus serves as a guide for the movement of the main valve 20 between its open position and its closed position.
The main spring 24 advantageously surrounds the rear rod 32. The axial surface 33 of the rear part 28 surrounds the orifice 34 for guiding the rear rod 32. Preferably, the rear part 28 comprises a skirt 35, or bell, coaxial with axis X11, open in the forward direction F11. In the example illustrated, the bottom of the skirt 35, in the direction B11, is formed by the surface 33 and pierced by the orifice 34. The skirt 35 is for example obtained by countersinking the part 25. In the open position of the main valve 20, the closing part 29 of the main valve 20 comes into contact with, or is close to, the free edge of the skirt 35, as visible in FIG. 9. The main spring 24 is then contained, at least for an essential part, preferably more than 90% of its compressed length taken along the axis X11, inside the skirt 35, so as to be protected. Specifically, the main spring 24 is contained in a housing delimited not only by the skirt 35, but also by the sealing part 29, mounted against or near the skirt 35. More generally, in the coupled configuration, the rear part 28 is radially interposed between the main spring 24 and the fluid circulating in the rear chamber 13, in order to protect the main spring 24 from the flow of fluid axially passing through the duct 11. Thus, the life of the main spring 24 is considerably increased.
The main valve 20 delimits a secondary passage 40, which passes through the main valve 20. The secondary passage 40 opens firstly into the rear chamber 13 and secondly into the front volume 15, so as to connect them fluidly, when the secondary passage 40 is not closed.
The front rod 27 is hollowed out at its center, that is to say it is tubular. This recess forms an axial sub-part 41 of the secondary passage 40. The axial sub-part 41 is coaxial with the axis X11, and opens axially, in the direction F11, at a front end 31 of the front rod 27, in the volume before 15.
Preferably, the recess of the front rod 27 also comprises a radial part 43 of the secondary passage 40, which opens into the front volume 15 in a radial direction, via an orifice opening at a radial outer wall of the front rod. 27. This radial part 43 is located between the front end 31 and the sealing part 29.
The rear body 23 comprises a recess which forms a rear part of the secondary passage 40 opening into the rear chamber 13 in the closed position of the main valve 20. Here, the recess of the rear body 23 forms two radial parts 45 of the secondary passage 40 , each opening into the rear chamber 13 at an external radial wall of the rear body 23. The recess in the rear part also forms an axial sub-part 47 of the secondary passage 40, preferably coaxial with the axis X11. The axial sub-part 47 is fluidly connected, in direction B11, to the radial parts 45, and opens, in direction F11, into an axial sub-part 49 of the secondary passage 40, formed by the intermediate body 25. For this, the intermediate body 25 is of tubular shape, in particular coaxial with the axis X11.
Here, the axial sub-part 41 of the secondary passage 40 also opens, in the direction B11, into the axial sub-part 49 of the intermediate body 25.
The safety valve 50 is housed in the secondary passage 40 of the main valve 20, in particular in the sub-parts 47 and 49.
The safety valve 50 is movable in the secondary passage 40 parallel to the axis X11 and relative to the main valve 20 between a closed position and an open position. The closed position is illustrated in Figures 1,3 and 7. The open position is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
As is particularly visible in FIG. 3, in the closed position, the safety valve 50 is in axial abutment in the direction F11 against an internal seat 51 belonging to the main valve 20. In the closed position, the safety valve 50 cooperates with the seat 51 to close the secondary passage 40 and thus prevent the passage of fluid through the secondary passage 40, between the rear chamber 13 and the front volume 15.
The safety valve 50 is preferably in the form of a ball, that is to say a solid spherical element, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 7-9. The internal seat 51 is preferably formed by a seal, for example conical, which can be in the form of an elastomeric seal. This seal is attached to the intermediate body 25 of the main valve 20. In the closed position, the ball of the safety valve 50 cooperates with the seal to close the secondary passage 40.
The open position of the safety valve 50 is moved back, that is to say offset in the direction B11, relative to its closed position. In the open position, the safety valve 50 is away from the seat 51 in the direction B11 to allow the circulation of fluid through the secondary passage 40. The fluid passes through the safety valve 50 by circulating radially around the safety valve 50.
The connecting element 1 comprises a mechanical secondary spring 60, which recalls the safety valve 50 against the seat 51, that is to say towards its closed position, in the direction F11 relative to the main valve 20. The secondary spring 60 is preferably a helical compression spring, coaxial with the axis X11.
For this, the secondary spring 60 is advantageously disposed at the rear of the safety valve 50 so as to bear on the safety valve 50 in the direction F11. The secondary spring 60 also bears on the main valve 20 in the direction B11, in particular against an axial surface of the rear body 23 provided in the secondary passage 40. The elastic force developed by the secondary spring 60 is advantageously less than the force elastic developed by the main spring 24. The difference in elastic force of the main springs 24 and secondary 60 contributes to ensuring that the safety valves 50 and main 20 have passed into the open position sequentially in the desired order.
The connecting element 1 also comprises a pusher 70. In the present example the pusher 70 has the shape of a solid rod.
The pusher 70 is mounted essentially inside the main valve 20. In particular, the pusher 70 is partially mounted in the secondary passage 40. More specifically, the pusher 70 is received inside the front rod 27, which envelops pusher 70 like a sleeve. In particular, the pusher 70 is received in the axial subpart 41 of the secondary passage 40, over the entire length of the axial subpart 41. A front end 71 of the pusher 70 projects from the front end 31 in the direction F11. A rear end 72 of the pusher 70 projects into the subpart 49 in the direction B11.
The pusher 70 is movable relative to the body 5, relative to the associated main valve 20, and relative to the associated safety valve 50, parallel to the axis X11.
In particular, the front rod 27 serves as a guide for the axial sliding of the pusher 70 in the main valve 20. As visible in FIG. 3, the pusher 70 comprises a front portion 79. The front portion 79 and the rear end 72 are advantageously cylindrical in shape with circular base. Preferably, the outside diameter of the rear end 72 is less than the outside diameter of the portion 79. Preferably, the front rod 27, of corresponding shape with the front portion 79, envelops the front portion 79 with the most radial clearance reduced possible, but which nevertheless allows a circulation of fluid along the pusher 70, within the sub-part 41, between the axial sub-part 49 and the front volume 15 so that the pusher 70, in itself, does not not block the communication between the rear chamber 13 and the front volume 15. Fluid, flowing along the pusher 70, in particular of the front portion 79, can pass through the radial part 43 of the secondary passage 40, or the front end 31.
Preferably, as shown in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connecting element 1 comprises three balls 75 for guiding the sliding of the pusher 70 in the main valve 20. A peripheral groove 76 of the pusher 70, near the end rear 72, receives the three balls 75, Engaged in the peripheral groove 76, the balls 75 are axially integral with the pusher 70. Each ball 75 is moreover received in a respective longitudinal groove 77 formed in the main body 21 at the end rear of the axial sub-part 41 of the secondary passage 40 of the main valve 20. Each of the balls 75 is engaged with one of the three grooves 77 of the main valve 20 regularly distributed around the axis X11. Each groove 77 is blind in direction F11 and open in direction B11.
The pusher 70 is movable, relative to the main valve 20, between a position advanced in the direction F11, shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, and a position moved back in the direction B11, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In its retreat between the advanced position and the retracted position, the pusher 70 can also reach an intermediate position, which is described below. When the pusher 70 is moved back relative to the intermediate position, the pusher 70 is said to be in a “recessed configuration”. When the pusher 70 is positioned from the intermediate position (included) to the advanced position, the pusher 70 is said to be in "advanced configuration".
Preferably, to limit the stroke of the pusher 70 in the main valve 20 to the retracted position in the direction B11, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pusher 70 axially abuts against the main valve 20. In particular, a distal shoulder 73 of the pusher 70, formed between the rear end 72 and the front portion 79, and delimiting the rear of the peripheral groove 76, comes to bear in the direction B11 against an internal abutment surface 74 of the intermediate body 25 of the main valve
20. These elements are better visible in Figures 3 and 4.
Preferably, in order to limit the travel of the pusher 70 in the main valve 20 to the advanced position in the direction F11, the balls 75 respectively come to abut in the direction F11 against the blind end of the grooves 77. In other words, the translational movement of the pusher 70 in the main valve 20 is limited towards the front by the three balls 75 in front abutment against the main valve 20, these balls 75 can be qualified as "stop balls". In the advanced position, the pusher 70 thus abuts on the front against the main valve 20.
As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, in the advanced position of the pusher 70, the rear end 72 of the pusher 70 is axially spaced from the safety valve 50.
In the intermediate position, not shown, the pusher 70 is in rear abutment against the safety valve 50, while the latter is in the closed position, that is to say in abutment against the seat 51.
In the advanced configuration of the pusher 70 and in the uncoupled configuration of the connector element 1, the pusher 70 is freely axially movable between the intermediate position and the advanced position. In the advanced configuration of the pusher 70, the safety valve 50 is held in the closed position by the secondary spring 60, against the seat 51. The distal shoulder 73 of the pusher 70 is spaced from the internal abutment surface 74 of the main valve 20.
In the remote configuration of the pusher 70, the rear end 72 of the pusher 70 is in rear abutment against the safety valve 50, which is then interposed between the end 72 and the secondary spring 60. Consequently, from the intermediate position towards the retracted position of the pusher 70, the pusher 70 and the safety valve 50 are linked in the axial position. In fact, the secondary spring 60 maintains the safety valve 50 in axial contact with the pusher 70. When the pusher 70 is moved in the direction B11, as soon as the pusher 70 reaches the intermediate position, it comes into contact with the safety valve 50 and moves it to the open position, that is to say the distance from the seat 51. By continuing to move the pusher 70 in direction B11, the safety valve 50 is further away from the seat 51, so that the opening of the secondary passage 40 is maximum. In other words, whatever the position of the pusher 70 relative to the main valve 20 along the axis X11 when the pusher 70 is in the retracted configuration, the safety valve 50 keeps the secondary passage 40 open between the rear chamber 13 and the front volume 15.
The front end 71 extends beyond the front end 31 in the direction F11, whatever the relative position of the pusher 70 relative to the main valve 20, in particular, even if the pusher 70 is in the retracted position .
As illustrated in the figures, the front end 71 forms a raised front end surface 81, which is preferably convex and conical in shape, centered on the axis X11. For example, the angle at the top of the cone is about 120 °. Opposite the front end surface 81, that is to say in the direction B11, the front end 71 forms a proximal shoulder 82, turned towards the rear. At least 75% of the length d70 of the pusher 70 is housed in the main valve 20 when the pusher 70 is in the advanced position, that is to say in abutment on the front against the main valve 20. The length of the pusher 70 is measured parallel to the axis X11, from the front end 71 to the rear end 72.
Preferably, the length of the pusher 70 is greater than twice the internal diameter d15 of the internal conduit 11, up to the front volume 15. The internal diameter of the front volume 15 corresponds to the minimum internal diameter of the front part 7 at the front from seat 22.
The connector being in the uncoupled configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main 20 and safety 50 valves are in the closed position and the pusher 70 is in the advanced configuration.
A non-zero axial distance d87 is defined between a front face 87 of the male body 5 and the front end 71 of the pusher 70, when the pusher 70 is in the advanced position, and the main valve 20 is in the closed position. This distance d87 is measured parallel to the axis X11. For the end 71, the distance d87 is measured on the central axis X11. In this uncoupled configuration, in the advanced position, the pusher 70 is then set back from the front face 87 of the male body 5, that is to say that the end 71 is offset in the direction B11 relative to the front face 87.
The body 5 comprises a front external surface 88 and an intermediate external surface 89 cylindrical with a circular base, coaxial with the axis X11. The external surfaces 88 and 89 are defined on the front part 7 of the body 5. Axially, the front external surface 88 advantageously extends from the front face 87, and is immediately followed by the intermediate external surface 89, in the direction B11. Preferably, the intermediate external surface 89 has a diameter greater than that of the front external surface 88.
The body 5 has an external peripheral groove 80 for locking, capable of cooperating with locking members 180 of the female connector element 101, described in the following. In the present example, the external peripheral groove 80 is formed at the level of the intermediate external surface 89.
The female coupling element 101 has an operation essentially similar to that of the male coupling element 1, even if the female coupling element 101 differs from the male coupling element 1 in its form, for a certain number of 'elements that constitute it. The elements of the female connector element 101 with a common function or geometry with those of the male connector element 1 are referenced with the same reference number increased by 100 and their description made for the male connector element 1 s 'applies for female connector element 101 unless specified.
As illustrated in particular in FIG. 5, the female connector element 101 comprises a body 105, called "female body", of generally tubular shape. The body 105 comprises several parts 107, 108, 109 assembled with the interposition of separate seals.
The female body 105 delimits an internal conduit 111 extending along a longitudinal central axis X111 of the connection element 101. For any characteristic of the connection element 101, the term "axial" denotes a parallel direction to the X111 axis and by "radial" a radial direction relative to the X111 axis.
The female connector element 101 defines, parallel to the axis X111, a front direction F111 and a rear direction B111 opposite the front direction F111. The direction F11 is directed towards the side of the front part 107 and the direction B11 towards the side of the rear part 109. The expressions “front >> and“ rear >>, attributed to any characteristic of the connecting element 101, refer to respectively to directions F111 and B111.
The internal conduit 111 passes through the body 105 from side to side, opening out at the front and at the rear of the body 105. The internal conduit 111 comprises a rear chamber 113, opening out at the rear of the body 105. The end 103 of pipe, arranged at the rear of the connecting element 101, is connected to the opening of the rear chamber 113, at the rear part 109. The duct 111 comprises a front volume 115, opening to the front of the body 105. Preferably, the front volume 115 is, essentially or all, cylindrical with a circular base and coaxial with the axis X11.
As explained in the following, the connecting element 101 comprises two valves, comprising a main valve 120 and a safety valve 150.
The main valve 120 is housed inside the duct 111. The main valve 120 is movable relative to the body 105, in translation parallel to the axis X111, between a closed position and an open position. In Figures 5, 7 and 8, the closed position of the main valve 120 is illustrated. In Figure 9, the open position of the main valve 120 is illustrated.
In the closed position, a sealing part 129 of the main valve 120 is in axial abutment, in the direction B111, against a seat 122 formed in the body 105, so as to close the communication of the conduit 111 between the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115 at a main passage 130. More generally, the seat 122 separates the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115.
In the closed position of the main valve 120, a seal 126 is interposed axially between the main valve 120 and the body 105, more precisely its seat 122. In particular, this seal 126 is housed in an external groove of the part shutter 129 of the main valve 120 and cooperates axially with the body 105, in particular its seat 122, in the closed position of the main valve 120.
In the present example, as is particularly visible in FIG. 5, and as for the main valve 20, the main valve 120 comprises several bodies 121, 123, 125, distributed axially, fixedly assembled by screwing. The main valve 150 comprises a front rod 127, extending in front of the obturating part 129 and having a reduced external diameter, in particular in comparison with the diameter of the obturating part 129. The front rod 127 is preferably coaxial with the axis X111.
Attached to the sealing part 129 and directed in the direction F111, the main valve 120 comprises a front extension 136 of tubular shape. The front extension 136 forms a bell pierced with several openings 138 for fluid circulation. The front extension 136 radially surrounds the front rod 127 and extends over only part of its length, parallel to the axis X111. Here, the front extension 136 is formed by the same part as the sealing part 129.
The main valve 120 could be formed in one piece, or by a body assembly different from that of the bodies 121, 123 and 125, nevertheless having the front rod 127, the sealing part 129, and any other characteristic presently described.
The opening position of the main valve 120 is moved back, that is to say is offset in the direction B111, relative to the closed position. In the open position, the main valve 120 is away from the seat 122 in the direction B111. As shown in FIG. 9, in the open position, the main passage 130 for the fluid, is formed between the external surface of the main valve 120, in particular the sealing part 129, and the body 105. The main passage 130 is formed between the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115, in particular at their axial border. In the open position, the main valve 120 thus allows fluid communication between the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115, which takes place through the main passage 130 and the openings 138.
In the open position of the main valve 120, the fluid can pass through the conduit 111 right through, by circulating through the main passage 130. For example, if fluid is supplied by the male connector element 1 while the connector is in the coupled configuration, the fluid can then flow in the direction B111, as shown by the arrows L1 in FIG. 9. In this case, the fluid first circulates around the front rod 127, then rushes in, radially outwards, through the openings 138 of the front extension 136, to finally cross the main passage 130 open, around the sealing part 129. When the fluid circulates in the opposite direction in the direction F111, a reverse path is adopted.
The connecting element 1 comprises a main mechanical spring 124, which recalls the main valve 120 against the seat 122, that is to say in the closed position, in the direction F111. The main spring 124 is preferably a helical compression spring, coaxial with the axis X111. The main spring 124 exerts an elastic return force, parallel to the axis X111, on the main valve 120, relative to the body 105, pushing the main valve 120 in the direction F11 relative to the body 105.
For this, the main spring 124 is advantageously disposed axially along and radially around the front extension 136 of the main valve 120, so as to bear on the main valve 120 in the direction F111, at an external flange 137 of the front extension 136 of the main valve 120. The main spring 124 also bears on the body 105 in the direction B111. More specifically, the support of the main spring 124 is carried out against an axial surface 133 of the body 105, turned in the direction F111. The main spring 124 is thus housed, relatively tightly, in a housing defined by the front extension 136, the flange 137, an internal radial surface 112 of the conduit 111, and the surface 133, so as to be protected from the circulation of the fluid. in the fitting, in the coupled configuration of the fitting. More generally, the main spring 124 is arranged radially between the body 105 and the front extension 136.
In the present example, the main female valve 120 is guided in its axial translation between the open and closed positions by the front extension 136, which slides along the internal radial surface 112 of the conduit 111. More precisely, the external flange 137 cooperates with, and is radially guided by, the internal radial surface 112 to obtain this axial translation. The flange 137 is in contact with the internal radial surface 112 with reduced radial clearance. As a variant, the characteristics of the female connector element 101 relating to the main valve 120, in particular as regards the front extension 136 and the main spring 124, can be implemented for the male connector element 1, by replacement of the rear part 28 and of the main spring 24. Similarly, the characteristics of the male connector element 1 relating to the main valve 20, in particular as regards the rear part 28 and the main spring 24, can be brought into play work for the female connector element 101, replacing the front extension 136 and the main spring 124.
The main valve 120 defines a secondary passage 140, for the fluid, which passes through the main valve 120 right through along the axis X111, unlike the main valve 20 which includes the radial passages 45. The secondary passage
140 opens on the one hand into the rear chamber 113 and on the other hand into the front volume 115, so as to connect them fluidly, when the secondary passage 140 is not blocked.
The front rod 127 is hollowed out in the center, that is to say it is tubular. This recess forms an axial sub-part 141 of the secondary passage 140. The sub-part
141 is coaxial with the axis X111 and opens, in the direction F111, at a front end 131 of the front rod 127, in the front volume 115.
Preferably, the recess of the front rod 127 also comprises a radial part 143 of the secondary passage 140, which opens into the front volume 115 in a radial direction, at the level of a radial external wall of the front rod 127.
Here, the recess of the rear body 123 forms an axial part 147 of the secondary passage 140, coaxial with the axis X111 and opening in the direction B111 in the rear chamber 113. Here, the axial sub-part 141 of the secondary passage 140 opens out also, in direction B111, in axial sub-part 149 of the intermediate body
125. Subpart 149 thus fluidly connects subparts 141 and 147 to each other.
More generally, the secondary passage 140 comprises an axial part, coaxial with the axis X111, which extends from the front end 131 to the opposite axial end of the main valve 120, behind the sealing part 129. The secondary passage 140 also opens into the volume before 115, via the part 143.
The safety valve 150 is housed in the secondary passage 140 of the main valve 120. Its operation is essentially identical to that of the safety valve 50 of the male connector element 1.
The safety valve 150 is movable in the secondary passage 140 parallel to the axis X111 and relative to the main valve 120 between a closed position and an open position. The closed position is illustrated in Figures 5 and 7. The open position is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
As can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, in the closed position, the safety valve 150 is in axial abutment in the direction F111 against an internal seat 151 belonging to the main valve 120. In the closed position, the safety valve 150 cooperates with the seat 151 for closing the secondary passage 140 and thus preventing the passage of fluid through the secondary passage 140, between the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115.
The safety valve 150 is preferably in the form of a ball. The internal seat 151 is preferably formed by a seal, for example conical, which can be in the form of an elastomer seal. In the closed position, the ball of the safety valve 150 cooperates with the seal to close the secondary passage 140.
In the open position, the safety valve 150 is away from the seat 151 in the direction B111 to allow the circulation of fluid through the secondary passage 140. Therefore, the fluid generally flows parallel to the axis X111. The fluid passes through the safety valve 150 by circulating around the safety valve 150.
The connecting element 101 comprises a secondary mechanical spring 160, which recalls the safety valve 150 against the seat 151, that is to say in the closed position, in the direction F111. The secondary spring 160 is preferably a helical compression spring, coaxial with the axis X111.
For this, the secondary spring 160 is advantageously disposed at the rear of the safety valve 150 so as to bear on the safety valve 150 in the direction F111. The secondary spring 160 is also supported on the main valve
120 in direction B111, in particular against an axial face provided in the secondary passage 140. The connecting element 101 also comprises a pusher 170, which is preferably similar to the pusher 70. In the present example the pusher 170 essentially has the form of 'a full stem. The pusher 170 is mounted essentially inside the main valve 120. In particular, the pusher 170 is mounted in the secondary passage 140. More specifically, the pusher 170 is received inside the front rod 127, which envelops the pusher 170 in the manner of a sleeve. A front end 171 of the pusher 170 projects from the end 131 in the direction F111. The pusher 170 is movable relative to the body 105, relative to the associated main valve 120, and relative to the safety valve 150 associated parallel to the axis X111.
In particular, the front rod 127 serves as a guide for the axial sliding of the pusher 170. The pusher has the same geometry as the pusher 70, except for the front end surface 181. Preferably, the main valve 120 envelops the pusher 170 with the smallest possible radial clearance, but which nevertheless allows a circulation of fluid along the pusher 170, within the main valve 120, so that the pusher 170, in itself, does not block the communication between the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115. Fluid, circulating along the pusher 170, can pass through the radial part 143 of the secondary passage 140, or the secondary passage 40 at the front end 131.
Preferably, as shown in particular in FIGS. 5 and 6, and in an identical manner to the connection element 1, the connection element 101 comprises three balls 175 for guiding the sliding of the pusher 170 in the main valve 120. A groove peripheral 176 of the pusher 170, near the end 172, receives the three balls 175 Engaged in the groove 176, the balls 175 are axially integral with the pusher 170. Each ball 175 is moreover received in a respective longitudinal groove 177 formed in the main valve 120. Each of the balls 175 is engaged with one of the three grooves 177 of the main valve 120. Each groove 177 is blind in direction F111 and preferably open in direction B111.
Guided in axial sliding by the main valve 120, the pusher 170 is movable, relative to the main valve 120, between an advanced position in the direction F111, shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, and a retracted position in the direction B111, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Between the advanced position and the retracted position, the pusher 170 can also reach an intermediate position, which is described below, like the pusher 70. When the pusher 170 is positioned between the retracted position and the intermediate position (not included), the pusher 170 is said to be in a “remote configuration”. When the pusher 170 is positioned between the intermediate position (included) and the advanced position, the pusher 170 is said to be in "advanced configuration".
Preferably, in the retracted position of the pusher 170 in the direction B111, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pusher 170 is in rear abutment against an internal abutment surface 174 of the main valve 120. In particular, a distal shoulder 173 pusher 170 abuts in direction B111 against the abutment surface 174 of the main valve 120
Preferably, to limit the stroke of the pusher 170 to the advanced position in the direction F111, the balls 175 respectively come into abutment in the direction F111 against the blind part of the grooves 177. In the advanced position, the pusher 170 is in abutment on the forward against the main valve 120 by means of the thrust balls 175.
In the intermediate position, not illustrated, the pusher 170 abuts in the direction B111 against the safety valve 150, while the latter is in the closed position, that is to say in abutment against the seat 151.
In the advanced position of the pusher 170, the rear end 172 of the pusher 70 is axially separated from the safety valve 150. In the advanced configuration of the pusher 170, the safety valve 150 is held in the closed position by the secondary spring 160, against the seat 151 and the distal shoulder 173 of the pusher 170 is spaced from the internal abutment surface 174 of the main valve 120. In the advanced configuration, the pusher 170 is freely axially movable between the intermediate position and the advanced position. On this range of movement of the pusher 170 that is the advanced configuration, the pusher 170 allows the safety valve 150 to be in the closed position.
For the other part of the stroke of axial movement of the pusher 170 in the main valve 120, namely the retracted configuration, the rear end 172 of the pusher 170 is in axial abutment against the safety valve 150, which is then interposed between the end 172 and the secondary spring 160. Consequently, in this part of the stroke of the pusher 170, the pusher 170 and the safety valve 150 are linked in the axial position. In fact, the secondary spring 160 maintains the safety valve 150 in axial contact with the pusher 170. In the remote configuration, the pusher 170 is capable of driving the safety valve 150 in its axial movement towards the rear. When the pusher 170 is moved in the direction B11, as soon as the pusher 170 reaches the intermediate position, it comes into contact with the safety valve 150 so as to cause it to pass into the open position, that is to say at move it away from the seat 151. By continuing to move the pusher 170 in the direction B111, the safety valve 150 is further away from the seat 151, so that the opening of the secondary passage 140 is maximum. In other words, when the pusher 170 is in the retracted configuration, the safety valve 150 keeps the secondary passage 140 open between the rear chamber 113 and the front volume 115, whatever the position of the pusher 170 relative to the valve main 120, along axis X111 between the retracted and intermediate positions.
The front end 171 extends beyond the front end 131 in the direction F111, whatever the relative position of the pusher 170 relative to the main valve 120. In particular, the front end 171 of the pusher 170 protrudes towards the front of the main valve 120, whether the pusher 170 is in the advanced configuration or in the retracted configuration, even if the pusher 170 is in the retracted position.
As illustrated in the figures, the front end 171 forms a hollow front end surface 181, which is preferably concave and of conical shape, centered on the axis X111. For example, the angle at the top of the cone is equal to that of the front end surface 81, which is 120 °. The respective relief and recess shapes of the front end surfaces 81 and 181 are geometrically complementary in order to form a self-centered contact on the axis X11 and X111 when the pushers 70 and 170 are brought into axial contact during coupling. and in the coupled configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. As a variant, other shapes than conical, and hollow and inverted relief shapes between the two pushers 70 and 170, can be chosen.
Opposite the front end surface 181, that is to say in direction B111, the front end 171 also forms a proximal shoulder 182, turned towards the rear. At least 75% of the length of the pusher 170 is housed in the main valve 120 when the pusher 170 is in the advanced position, that is to say in abutment on the front against the main valve 120. The length of the pusher 170 is measured parallel to axis X111, from the front end 171 to the rear end 172.
Preferably, the length d170 of the pusher 170 is greater than twice the internal diameter d115 of the internal conduit 111, up to the front volume 115. The internal diameter of the front volume 115 is the minimum diameter of the internal radial wall of the body 105 to the front of the shutter 129.
The connector being in the uncoupled configuration as shown in FIG. 5, the valves 120 and 150 are in the closed position and the pusher 170 is in the advanced configuration.
In this uncoupled configuration, the pusher 170 is then set back from the front face 187 of the female body 105, that is to say that the end 171 is offset in the direction B111 relative to the front face 187.
The body 105 comprises an internal surface before 188 and an intermediate internal surface 189 cylindrical with a circular base, coaxial with the axis X111. The intermediate internal surface 189 is advantageously adjacent to the internal radial surface 112. The internal surfaces 188 and 189 partly define the volume before 115. Axially, the internal surface before 188 advantageously extends from the front face 187, and is immediately followed by the intermediate internal surface 189, in the direction B111, the internal radial surface 112 being axially situated between the intermediate internal surface 189 and the seat 122. Preferably, the intermediate internal surface 189 is of smaller diameter than that of the surface internal before 188.
A seal is provided, which here comprises a seal called "proximal >> 196 and a seal called" distal >> 197. The seals 196 and 197 are respectively arranged in two internal peripheral grooves formed on the intermediate internal surface 189. These two seals 196 and 197 are axially parallel. More generally, the seal comprises a number of parallel seals greater than or equal to one, namely at least one seal 196. As a variant, this seal could be provided on the external surface of the body male 5, in particular on one of the external surfaces 88 or 89.
In the uncoupled configuration, when the pusher 170 is in the advanced position, the front end 171 of the latter, is at an axial distance d197 from the seal, more precisely, from the proximal seal 196, or advantageously from the gasket furthest from the gasket, if more than two are planned. For the end 171, the distance d197 is measured on the central axis X111. The front end 171 is in front of the seal 196.
The front part 107 of the female body 105 houses the locking balls 180, which are movable between an internal radial locking position, shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, in which the locking balls 180 partially protrude into the front volume 115, and an external radial unlocking position, where the locking balls are retracted out of the volume before 115.
A locking ring 190 surrounds the female body 105. The ring 190 is axially movable between an advanced position, shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, in which it maintains the locking balls 180 in the internal radial locking position, and an axially retracted position. , shown in Figures 7 and 8, in which it allows the locking balls 180 to adopt their external radial unlocking position. A spring 191, interposed between the female body 105 and the locking ring 190, shown diagrammatically, exerts an elastic return force of the locking ring 190 towards the advanced position, in abutment against a stop segment 192, integral with the body female 105. In the retracted position against this spring 191, an internal housing 193 of the locking ring 190 faces the locking balls 180 to allow them to move into the unlocking position, while in the advanced position , an internal shoulder 194 of the ring 190, adjacent to the housing 193, keeps the locking balls 180 in the internal radial locking position and prevents the locking balls 180 from adopting the unlocking position.
To pass from the uncoupled configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, to the coupled configuration shown in FIG. 9, the male and female connector elements 101 and 101 are aligned and brought together so that the axes X11 and X111 are coaxial, at least approximately. The locking ring 190 is moved from its advanced position to its retracted position by the user, against the spring 191, to allow the locking balls 180 to adopt their external radial unlocking position, so that they do not form no obstacle the fitting of the male body 5 into the female body 105.
As shown in FIG. 7, the male body 5 is introduced into the front volume 115 of the female body 105.
More specifically, the front external surface 88 is introduced into the female body 105 beyond the front face 187, and slides axially first in the internal surface before 188, with relatively high radial clearance, then in the intermediate internal surface. 189, with reduced radial clearance, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. When the front external surface 88 slides in the intermediate internal surface 189, the intermediate external surface 89 slides in the internal surface before 188 also with reduced radial clearance. In the coupled configuration, the intermediate external surface 89 is fitted with the internal surface before 188 and the front external surface 88 is fitted with the intermediate internal surface 189. The axes X11 and X111 are then coaxial. A double guidance is therefore obtained, which allows both easy fitting, since the beginning of the fitting is done with relatively high radial clearance, and a precise fitting, since the end of the fitting is done with reduced radial clearance, over a significant length of the bodies 5 and 105.
The male body 5 pushes the locking balls 180 towards their external radial unlocking position.
During coupling, while the coupled configuration is not yet reached, the seal is taken between the male body 5 and the female body 105 by means of the seal, as shown in FIG. 7 First, this seal is taken by the proximal seal 196, which cooperates radially with the female body 105 and with the front external surface 88 of the male body 5. The front volumes 15 and
115 are then in communication and open directly into one another to together form an intermediate volume 16 internal to the male body 5 and female 105 and tight vis-à-vis the outside of the connector. By "leaktight" is meant that the seal forms an obstacle to fluid communication between the intermediate volume 16 and the exterior of the fluid connection. By exterior of the connector is meant a volume disposed around the male 5 and female 105 body in fitting, outside of the conduits 3 and 103. As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate volume 16 is formed and sealed by means of the seal sealing 196 which is interposed between the intermediate volume 16 and the outside of the fitting, while the safety valves 50 and 150, like the main valves 20 and 120, are always in the closed position. In particular, the pushers 70 and 170 are always in advanced configuration. For this, it is advantageously provided that the distance d87 is strictly greater than the distance d197, so that the sealing connection between the male body 5 and the female body 105 takes place before the pushers 70 and 170 are pushed axially.
As shown in FIG. 7, the continuation of the coupling movement causes the axial support of the front end 71 of the male pusher 70 with the front end 171 of the female pusher 170. Thanks to the mutual geometric cooperation of the surfaces of the ends 71 and 171, advantageously conical, the pushers 70 and 170 are guided and self-centered so that the pushers 70 and 170 are easily aligned relatively with respect to each other to avoid jamming.
The continuation of the coupling movement causes the pushers 70 and 170 to repel each other, the pushbutton 70 being pushed back in the direction B11 relative to the body 5 and the pushbutton 170 being pushed back in the direction B111 relative to the body 105. The one of the pushers 70 and 170, then the two pushers 70 and 170, respectively reach their intermediate position, thus each coming into contact, via their respective rear end 72 and 172, with their respective safety valve 50 and 150.
One of the two safety valves 50 or 150, for which the fluid in the rear chamber 13 or 113 associated has a lower pressure compared to the fluid in the rear chamber of the other connector element 1 or 101, is moved the first of its respective seat 51 or 151, towards its open position. The secondary passage 40 or 140 of this safety valve 50 or 150 is then opened, which causes a circulation of fluid between the rear chamber 13 or 113, associated with the safety valve 50 or 150 open, and the intermediate volume 16.
In the present example, the pressure is lower in the rear chamber 113 than in the rear chamber 13, so that the safety valve 150 is first moved to its open position by the pusher 170, the pusher 170 crossing in first the intermediate position, thus passing into the remote configuration. Consequently, the secondary passage 140 is open, while the secondary passage 40 remains closed at this stage. A fluid communication is therefore opened between the rear chamber 113 and the intermediate volume 16 via the secondary passage 140. When the safety valve 150 is opened, only the secondary spring 160 is compressed, and not the main spring 124, while the elastic force developed by the secondary spring 160 is lower than the elastic force of the main spring 124. The difference in elastic force of the main springs 124 and secondary 160 contributes to ensuring that the safety valves 150 and main 120 went into the open position sequentially in the desired order.
If a pressurized fluid is present in the rear chamber 113, the pressurized fluid invading the sealed intermediate volume 16 coming from the rear female chamber 113, the fluid pressure in the rear chamber 113 is lowered. As the coupling continues, the female pusher 170 continues to retreat into the female main valve 120 and arrives in the retracted position, that is to say as a rear stop against the main valve 120. During this phase, the rear face of the pusher male 70 is always in contact with the male safety valve 50, which is in the closed position.
The coupling movement then causes the opening of the male safety valve 50, driven by the male pusher 70 which moves back into the main valve 20 beyond its intermediate position, that is to say that the pusher 70 changes to remote configuration. This has the effect of opening a fluid communication between the rear chamber 13 and the intermediate volume 16, through the secondary passage 40 in the main male valve 20, allowing the lowering of the fluid pressure in the rear chamber 13. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 8. Since the secondary passage 140 is open, and if the rear chamber 113 is connected to a large volume at low pressure, the fluid which escapes from the rear chamber 13 can also take advantage of the volume connected to the female rear chamber 113 for reducing pressure relative to the initial pressure in the rear chamber 13 in the uncoupled configuration. The fluid can then circulate as shown by the arrows L in FIG. 8. Then the male pusher 70 arrives in the retracted position from the retracted configuration, that is to say as a rear stop against the main male valve 20.
When the pushers 70 and 170 are both in the retracted position, they keep the safety valves 50 in the open position, since they are both in the retracted configuration. Since the pushers 70 and 170 each protrude towards the front of their respective main valve 20 and 120, the front faces of the main valves 20 and 120, in particular the front ends 31 and 131, remain distant from each other. Thus, before the opening of the main valve 20, 120, the respective secondary passage 40, 140 is necessarily open between the rear chamber 13, 113 and the intermediate volume 16 formed by the front volumes 15 and 115. In particular, the fluid can circulate around each pusher 70 and 170 and around each safety valve 50 and 150, through the main valves 20 and 120. In particular transverse grooves 83, visible in FIG. 4, are provided on the abutment surface 74 of the intermediate body 25, to facilitate this circulation of fluid through the secondary passage 40 open when the male pusher 70 is in the retracted position. Transverse grooves not visible in the figures are formed on the abutment surface 174 for the same effect applied to the secondary passage 140 open when the female pusher 170 is in the retracted position. The pressure in the chambers 13 and 113 being lowered, the axial force necessary to continue the approximation of the male connector elements 1 and female 101 for the coupling and to open the main valves 20 and 120 is reduced. Indeed, the pressure of the fluid in the chambers 13 and 113 being reduced, the effort to maintain the main valves 20 and 120 in the closed position by the pressure of the fluid is also reduced. However, if, when the pushers reach the retracted position, the speed of the coupling movement of the coupling element 1 towards the coupling element 101 was too fast and did not allow the pressure to be reduced sufficiently in the rear chambers 13 and 113, the coupling effort to be supplied remains too high and the approximation of the bodies 5 and 105 can hardly be continued. The pressurized fluid can however continue to flow into the intermediate volume 16, and into the rear chamber 13 or 113 of lower pressure, via the unobstructed secondary passages 40 and 140, until the coupling force becomes surmountable and that the retraction fitting of the main valves 20 and 120 continues.
At the stage of FIG. 8, the fluid pressures having decreased in the rear chambers 13 and 113, it is now possible to push the main valves 20 and 120 towards their respective open position. The main valve 20 or 120, returned by the main spring 24 or 124 with the lowest stiffness, is opened first. Then, the circulation of fluid is authorized between this main valve 20 or 120 and the body 5 or 105 associated, by the main passage 30 or 130 opened first.
In the present example, the male main valve 20 is pushed first into the open position, that is to say before the female main valve 120. In the movement of the main valve 20, only the main spring 24 is at compress.
The front of the male body 5 makes contact with the distal joint 197, which provides a reinforced seal. As long as the return force of the male main valve 20 exerted by the main spring 24 is less than the return force of the female main valve 120 exerted by the main spring 124, the male main valve 20 is the only one open. Then, the main valve 120 is opened, in practice, either from a certain compression of the main spring 24 producing that the elastic restoring force of the springs reaches the same value, or when the front face 87 of the male body arrives axial support against the front extension 136 of the female main valve 120. In the latter case, the two main valves 20 and 120 are then moved simultaneously to their open position, as shown in FIG. 9.
The coupled configuration is reached at least when the front volume 115 receives the body of the male connector element in the fitting, in a leaktight manner thanks to its seal, and the main valves 20 and 120 are both in position d 'opening.
In the intermediate position of the pushers, in the retracted position of the pushers, as in the coupled configuration of the connector, the proximal shoulder 82, 182 remains axially distant from the front end 31, 131 of the respective main valve 20, 120.
During coupling, when the main male valve 20 is pushed back to its open position, its rear body 23 retracts inside the skirt 35 of the rear part 28.
For each connection element 1 and 101, in the open position of the safety valve 50 or 150, the passage section of the associated secondary passage 40 or 140 is preferably much less than the passage section of the main passage 30 or 130 associated, obtained in the open position of the main valve 20 or 120 associated. The circulation of fluid between the rear chambers 13 and 113 therefore preferably takes place through the main passages.
At the end of coupling, the front face 187 of the female body 105 reaches an axial abutment against a shoulder of the male body 5.
The locking balls 180 then arrive opposite the external peripheral groove 80 of the male body 5 and engage therein, in the internal radial position for locking the locking balls 180. This is preferably obtained by loosening the ring 190, which resumes its advanced position under the action of the spring 191, this displacement of the ring 190 also causing the locking balls 180 in their internal radial movement. The locking balls 180 engaged in the external peripheral groove 80, they then oppose a withdrawal of the male body 5 from the female body 105, that is to say an axial displacement of the connecting elements 1 and 101 to the away from each other.
Depending on the geometry of the locking groove, a slight withdrawal of the male body relative to the female body can take place before blocking of the male body 5 by the locking balls 180, as illustrated in Figure 9. Preferably, the coupled configuration of the two connecting elements is reached when this locking of the locking balls 180 in the external peripheral groove 80 is carried out, in addition to the fact that the open position of the main valves 20 and 120 is obtained.
To pass from the coupled configuration shown in FIG. 9, to the uncoupled configuration, shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the locking ring 190 is first moved from its advanced position to its retracted position by the user, to allow the locking balls 180 to adopt their external radial unlocking position.
The female body 105 can then be moved away from the male body 5, that is to say that the body 5 is moved in the direction B11 while the female body is moved in the direction B111, the locking balls 180 do not not opposing this withdrawal of the male body 5 from the female body 105.
The withdrawal of the male body 5 is followed by the closing of one of the main valves 20 or 120. The main valve 20 or 120 moved first to the closed position is the one which is subjected to the strongest elastic return by its main spring 24 or 124 respectively. In this example, this is the main valve 20. At this time, the pushers 70 and 170 remain in axial contact against each other in the remote configuration. The valves 50 and 150 therefore both remain in the open position.
We then return to the configuration of FIG. 8 described above. In this configuration, the two main valves 20 and 120 are in the closed position but the safety valves 50 and 150 are always kept in the open position by the pushers 70 and 170. Under the effect of the relative spacing movement of the body 5 and 105, the safety valves 50 and 150 close successively The pushers 70 and 170 have been pushed back respectively by the safety valves 50 and 150 in the intermediate position. The configuration shown in FIG. 7 and described above is obtained.
At least during all the aforementioned stages of uncoupling the connection elements 1 and 101, the intermediate volume 16 formed by the front volumes 15 and 115 is always sealed, thanks to the seal including the seal 196. Thus the intermediate volume 16 is sealed when the secondary passages 40 and 140 are closed by the safety valves 50 and 150.
Continuing the mutual spacing movement of the bodies 5 and 105, the pushers 70 and 170 leave their mutual contact.
The male body 5 ends up losing the seal with the female body 105 at the proximal joint 196. The male body 5 is removed from the female body 105, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 described above. In this uncoupled configuration, all the valves 20, 120, 50 and 150 are in the closed position and the pushers 70 and 170 are not in contact.
Ultimately, thanks to the foregoing provisions, the connection of Figures 1 to 9 has many advantages.
In particular, in all the configurations of the fitting, the opening position of the safety valves 50 and 150 can only occur if the intermediate volume 16 is made tight vis-à-vis the outside of the fitting, without leak in the environment. This is achieved in particular thanks to the arrangement of the seal and pushers in the male and female bodies. As the pushers 70 and 170 are formed respectively by separate parts with respect to the valves 50 and 150, and that the pushers 70 and 170 come to bear against the valves 50 and 150 only at certain moments of the coupling and of the uncoupling, which limits leaks. In addition, a one-piece safety valve lifter is less tolerant of manufacturing defects and more prone to jamming in the main valve, which could lead to leaks in the environment of the fitting.
In particular, during coupling, when the pusher 70 or 170, or the safety valve 50 or 150, pushes its respective main valve 20 or 120 into the open position, it is guaranteed that the opening of the safety valve 50, 150 is carried out before the opening of the respective main valve 20 or 120, to guarantee the pressure drop and therefore the reduction of the coupling force. During uncoupling, the reverse sequence is obtained.
During the coupling, for the opening of the safety valves 50 and 150, at high pressure, the safety valves 50 and 150 must be pushed back on a sealing section, defined by the diameters of the seals 51, 151, although lower than the sealing section of the main passages 30 and 130, defined by the diameters of the seals 26, 126. Preferably, for each connection element 1 and 101, the ratio between the sealing section of the main passage and the passage secondary is greater than four.
Then, when the pusher 70 or 170 pushes the respective main valve 20 or 120, it is only necessary that the main spring 24 or 124 be more compressed, while the secondary spring 60 or 160 is already compressed. Coupling efforts are therefore minimized.
Since the front faces of the main valves 20 and 120 do not come into contact, in any configuration of the connector, since advantageously has also been provided the through radial parts 43 and 143 of the secondary passages 40 and 140, and since the pushers 70 and 170 do not obstruct the secondary passages 40 and 140, even in particular in the intermediate position or even in the remote configuration, the secondary passages 40 and 140 remain free to continue the pressure reduction regardless of the speed of the coupling movement.
The main springs 24 and 124 are protected from the fluid stream in the coupled configuration, which increases their service life, in particular by the rear part 28 and by the front extension 136 respectively.
The engagement of the male body 5 in the female body 105 is done by a double guide, thanks to the pair of external surfaces 88 and 89 and to the pair of internal surfaces 188 and 189. The fitting of the bodies 5 and 105 is done therefore without jamming and with optimal alignment between the pushers 70 and 170.
In the coupled configuration, the male body 5 is in contact, by its front wall 87, against the front extension 136, which axially blocks any forward movement of the female main valve 120, under the effect of the flow in configuration mated.
The high length of the pusher 70 and / or 170, namely more than twice the internal diameter of the respective conduit 11 or 111, ensures that the sealed intermediate volume 16 is of relatively large volume, to allow a rapid drop in pressure of the or rear chambers 13 and / or 113 during coupling.
The connector can be used for high pressures present in the rear chamber of one or the other connection element, or in the rear chamber of the two connection elements, since each of the two connection elements is equipped with a pusher. 70 or 170 respectively and a safety valve 50 or 150 respectively.
For the second embodiment of a connector according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, numerous elements, designated with identical references increased by 200, an identical designation in the present description and a similar layout in the drawings , are common in their function, even in their structure and their geometry, with the corresponding elements of the embodiment of Figures 1 to
9. These common elements are not described again in detail, except for their differences with those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9. More generally, the main differences between the two embodiments are described below. All or part of the differences described below can be implemented in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9.
As in the case of Figures 1 to 9, the connector of Figures 10 and 11 comprises a male connector element 201 and a female connector element 301. The connector member 201 comprises a body 205, defining an internal conduit 211 along of a longitudinal central axis X211, comprising a front volume 215 and a rear chamber 213 internal to the body 205. The connecting element 201 comprises a main valve 220, of which a sealing part 229 selectively closes a main passage 230 of the fluid, which is recalled by a main spring 224 in the closed position. The main valve 220 also includes a front rod 227. The connecting element 201 comprises a pusher 270 and a safety valve 250, which selectively closes a secondary passage 240 through the main valve 220, and which is returned by a secondary spring 260 in the closed position. Similarly, the connector element 301 comprises a body 305, defining an internal conduit 311 along a longitudinal central axis X311, comprising a front volume 315 and a rear chamber 313 internal to the body 305. The connector element 301 comprises a main valve 320, a sealing portion 329 of which selectively blocks a main passage 330 for the fluid, and which is returned by a main spring 324 in the closed position. The main valve 320 also comprises a front rod 327. The connecting element 301 comprises a push rod 370 and a safety valve 350, which selectively closes a secondary passage 340 through the main valve 320, and which is returned by a secondary spring 360 in the closed position. A seal, comprising here two seals 396 and 397, is arranged so as to be interposed between the body 305 and the body 205 to seal the intermediate volume 216 formed by the direct fluid communication of the volumes before 215 and 315, not only in the coupled configuration of the connector of FIGS. 10 and 11, but also during coupling, to seal the intermediate volume 216 before one of the valves 220, 320, 250 or 350 either in the open position.
To replace the external peripheral groove 80, the locking balls 180 and the ring 190, the body 205 of the male connection element 201 has an external thread 280 and the female connection element 301 comprises a ring 390 with a internal thread 380. The ring 390 is mounted, being axially pivotable, around the female body 305, its thread 380 being able to be screwed with the thread 280 of the male body 205, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. More generally, to be put in coupled configuration, the two connecting elements 201 and 301 are screwed one inside the other.
Even more generally, it is provided that, for the two embodiments, the connector comprises locking means in coupled configuration, for example in one case the elements 80, 180 and 190, for example in the other case, the elements 280, 380 and 390.
The safety valve 250 and the pusher 270 are integral, therefore axially integral, and the safety valve 350 and the plunger 370 are integral, therefore axially integral, instead of being formed by separate and axially movable parts, one by relative to each other as in Figures 1 to 9. These two safety valve pushers have a general geometry of revolution. According to the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the pushers 270 and 370 are respectively connected in axial position with the safety valves 250 and 350, in advanced configuration as in remote configuration. In other words, each safety valve plunger moves in one piece between the retracted configuration of the pusher, in which the safety valve is in the open position, and the advanced position, which is the position of closing the safety valve. In the remote configuration, each pusher 270, 370 thus displaces the respective safety valve 250, 350 in the open position.
For FIGS. 10 and 11, the intermediate position of each pusher 270 and 370 is merged with the advanced position. Each push button 270 and 370 is in the advanced configuration only in the advanced position, which is also the intermediate position, and in the remote configuration for all the other positions between the advanced / intermediate position (not included) and the withdrawn position. As shown in Figure 10, in the advanced position of the valve lifter, the valve lifter is in front abutment, via the associated safety valve 250 or 350, against the associated main valve 220 or 320. For this, each safety valve 250 and 350 includes for example a shoulder 253 and 353 respectively. These shoulders 253 and 353 respectively comprise, for example, a front face of hemispherical or frustoconical geometry, turned in the forward direction, which abuts against the internal seat 251 and 351 respective of the main valves 220 and 320.
As shown in FIG. 11, for each connection element 201 and 301, in the retracted position of the valve lifter, the valve lifter 270, 370 is in back stop, by means of the associated safety valve 250 or 350, against the associated main valve 220 or 320. For this, for example, each of the shoulders 253 and 353 comprises a rear face, turned towards the rear of the respective connecting element 201, 301, which comes into abutment against an internal axial wall 254, 354 respective, turned towards the 'front of the respective connection element 201, 301, of the associated main valve 220 or 320. Each internal axial wall 254 and 354 is placed behind the respective internal seat 251 and 351 of the associated main valve 220 and 320. To prevent the pushers 270 and 370 from closing the secondary passages 240 or 340 respectively in the retracted position, each rear shoulder 253 and 353 is advantageously axially crossed by at least one longitudinal groove 283, respectively 383, which however does not allow the rear chamber 213, 313 to communicate with the front volume 215, 315, when the safety valve 250, 350 is in the closed position.
The front end surface 281 front of the pusher 270 forms a cylindrical-conical cavity, that is to say cylindrical at the front and conical at the rear, the cylindro-conical cavity being open in the front direction of the element of fitting 201. The front end surface 381 of the pusher 370 forms a cylindro-conical centering projection, that is to say conical towards the front, and cylindrical towards the rear. The centering projection is of reduced diameter compared to the front part 379 of the pusher 370. When they are brought into axial contact, the two plungers 270 and 370 are centered by cooperation of the centering projection and the cylindro-conical cavity.
During the coupling, a front part 207 of the male body 205 is introduced into the front volume 315. We then take the seal between the male body 205 and the female body 305, at least via the seal 396, then the pushers 270 , 370 come into axial contact, then the safety valve 250 or 350 subjected to the force of lower fluid pressure, from its respective rear chamber 213 or 313, is moved to the open position by its pusher. Unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, as soon as the pushers 270 and 370 are centered and come into axial abutment, one of the safety valves 250 and 350 is moved towards its open position. As soon as it retreats, the push-button 270 or 370 is in the back configuration. Then the other safety valve is moved to the open position.
The safety valves 250 and 350 being respectively pushed back, in the open position, in rear stop against the main valves 220 and 320, the main valves 220 and 320 are then driven towards their open position to reach the coupled configuration.
The main valve 22 comprises a rear rod 232, guided radially in a rear part 228 integral with the body 205, the rear part 228 comprising a skirt 235. The main valve 320 comprises a front extension 336, with openings 338, an internal radial surface 312 radially guiding the front extension 336.
The body 205 comprises a front external surface 288 and an intermediate external surface 289, while the body 305 comprises a front internal surface 388 and an intermediate internal surface 389.
According to other variants not illustrated, the characteristics of which can modify one or the other of the illustrated embodiments described above:
- The safety valve has the cylindrical geometry of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, while forming a separate part vis-à-vis the pusher, as in FIGS. 1 to 9.
- During coupling, the push-piece of the connection element can push back the main valve of the connection element, while the body of the connection element comes into abutment against a front extension of the main valve of the complementary coupling element, to push the main valve of the complementary coupling element back to the open position. In other words, the plunger of the complementary connecting element, according to this variant, does not push the main valve of the complementary connecting element towards its open position.
- The coupling locking means in the coupled configuration comprise a bayonet system, or any other locking member such as fingers or locking segments.
- During coupling, the safety valve, separate from the pusher and moved by the pusher to its open position, comes into abutment against the main valve. The pusher then pushes the main valve back to its open position via the safety valve.
- During coupling, the first safety valve of the connecting element, the rear chamber of which is of less pressure, is moved to its open position. If the pressure in the other rear chamber is very high, it is possible that the main valve associated with the first safety valve is opened before the second safety valve is opened.

权利要求:
Claims (15)
[1" id="c-fr-0001]
36 CLAIMS
1.- Fluid connection, comprising a male connection element (1; 201) and a female connection element (101; 301), each connection element (1, 101; 201, 301) comprising respectively:
- a body (5, 105; 205, 305), defining, along a longitudinal central axis (X11, X111; X211, X311), an internal duct (11, 111; 211, 311) comprising a front volume ( 15, 115; 215, 315), opening at the front of the body (5, 105; 205, 305), and a rear chamber (13, 113; 213, 313),
- a main valve (20, 120; 220, 320), movable in the body (5, 105; 205, 305) between an open position, in which a main passage (30, 130; 230, 330) is open between the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) and the body, for the passage of the fluid between the rear chamber (13, 113; 213, 313) and the front volume (15, 115; 215, 315), and a closed position, in which a sealing part (29, 129; 229, 329) of the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) is in front abutment against the body (5, 105; 205, 305) and closes the main passage (30, 130; 230, 330),
- a main spring (24, 124; 224, 324), which recalls the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) towards its closed position,
- a safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350), movable relative to the main valve between a closed position and an open position of a secondary passage (40, 140; 240, 340), arranged at through the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320), between the rear chamber (13, 113; 213, 313) and the front volume (15, 115; 215, 315),
- a secondary spring (60, 160; 260, 360), which is supported on the safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350) and on the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) and which recalls the safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350) towards its closed position in front abutment against the main valve, and
- a pusher (70, 170; 270, 370), movable in the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) between an advanced configuration, in which the safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350) is in position closing, and a remote configuration, in which the pusher moves the safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350) in the open position, the fluidic connector being configured to operate between:
- a decoupled configuration, in which the bodies (5, 105; 205, 305) of the male and female connection elements are separated from each other and the main and safety valves (20, 120, 50, 150; 220, 320, 250, 350) of the two connecting elements are in the closed position, and
- a coupled configuration, in which the front volume (115; 315) of the female connector element (101; 301) receives a front part (7; 107; 207) of the body (5; 205) of the element male connector (1; 201) in fitting and the main valves (20, 120; 220, 320) are in the open position;
one of the male connection element (1; 201) and the female connection element (101; 301) comprising at least one seal (196, 197; 396, 397) which cooperates with the body ( 105; 305) of the female connector element (101; 301) and with the body (5; 205) of the male connector element (1; 201) in the coupled configuration, during a passage from the uncoupled configuration in the coupled configuration, the pushers (70, 170; 270, 370) come into contact axially one against the other and each pushbutton moves the safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350) associated in the open position , while the associated main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) is in the closed position, characterized in that the fluidic connection is configured so that, when switching from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration:
- Said at least one seal (196, 197; 396, 397) cooperates with the body (105; 305) of the female connector element (101; 301) and with the body (5; 205) of the the male coupling element (1; 201), before the safety valves (50, 150; 250, 350) of the two coupling elements are moved to their open position, and
- for at least one of the connecting elements (1,101; 201,301), the plunger (70, 170; 270, 370) pushes the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) associated towards its open position, a once the associated safety valve (50, 150; 250, 350) is in the open position.
[2" id="c-fr-0002]
2, - Fluid connection according to claim 1, characterized in that, for at least one of the connection elements (101; 301):
- the main valve (120; 320) comprises a front extension (136; 336), crossed by openings (138; 338) for the passage of fluid at the level of the main passage (130; 330) in the open position of said main valve (120; 320), and
- the body (105; 305) of said connecting element comprises an internal radial surface (112; 312) radially guiding the front extension (136; 336) in said body (105; 305).
[3" id="c-fr-0003]
3. - Fluid connection according to claim 2, characterized in that the main spring (124; 324) of the connection element (101; 301) which comprises the front extension (136; 336) is arranged radially between the body (105; 305) of said connecting element (101; 301) and the front extension (136; 336).
[4" id="c-fr-0004]
4. - Fluidic connection according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that:
- the front extension (136; 336) is formed in the female connector element (101; 301) and
- The front extension (136; 336) is in axial contact with the front part (7; 107; 207) of the body (5; 305) of the male connector element (1; 201) in the coupled configuration.
[5" id="c-fr-0005]
5. - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during a transition from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration, the pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) of each connection element ( 1,101; 201, 301) comes into abutment against the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) associated, and thus pushes the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) associated towards its open position.
[6" id="c-fr-0006]
6. - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of the connection elements (1, 101; 201, 301), the secondary passage (40, 140; 240, 340 ) is open between the rear chamber (13, 113; 213, 313) and the front volume (15, 115; 215, 315) for any axial position of the pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) of said connection element with respect to the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) associated when said pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) is in the retracted configuration.
[7" id="c-fr-0007]
7. - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each of the two connection elements (1, 101; 201, 301), the pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) protrudes towards the 'front of the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) associated, regardless of the axial position of said pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) relative to said main valve (20, 120; 220, 320).
[8" id="c-fr-0008]
8. - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of the connection elements (1, 101), the pusher (70, 170) is axially movable relative to the valve security (50, 150) associated.
[9" id="c-fr-0009]
9. - Fluid connection according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one ball (75, 175), housed both in a longitudinal groove (77, 177) of the main valve (20, 120) and in a peripheral groove (76, 176) of the pusher (70, 170), forms a front stop of the pusher (70, 170) against the main valve (20, 120) in the advanced configuration of the pusher.
[10" id="c-fr-0010]
10. - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of the connection elements (201,301), the pusher (270, 370) and the safety valve (250, 350) associated are axially integral.
[11" id="c-fr-0011]
11. - Fluidic connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) comprises a front end surface (81, 181; 281, 381), the surfaces of front end of the two pushers being of complementary shape and configured to cooperate with each other, when the pushers (70, 170; 270, 370) are brought into contact with one another when switching from the uncoupled configuration to the coupled configuration.
[12" id="c-fr-0012]
12. - Fluid connection according to claim 11, characterized in that one of the front end surfaces (81; 381) is convex and of conical shape centered on the longitudinal central axis (X11; X211) of the element connector (1; 301) to which said front end surface (81; 381) belongs, while the other front end surface (181; 281) is concave and of complementary conical shape, centered on the central axis longitudinal (X111; X311) of the other connecting element (101; 201).
[13" id="c-fr-0013]
13. - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of the connection elements (1,101; 201,301):
- the main valve (20, 120; 220, 320) comprises a front rod (27, 127; 227, 327), extending in front of the shutter part (29, 129; 229, 329) and housing the pusher ( 70, 170; 270, 370), the front rod (27, 127; 227, 327) being of reduced diameter compared to the sealing part; and
- The length (d70, d170) of said pusher (70, 170; 270, 370) is greater than twice the internal diameter (d15, d115) of the front volume (15, 115; 215, 315) of said connecting element.
[14" id="c-fr-0014]
14, - Fluid connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of the connection elements (1,101; 201,301):
the connecting element (1; 201) comprises a rear part (28; 228), integral with the body (5; 205), and comprising a skirt (35; 235),
the main spring (24; 224) of said coupling element is supported on the rear part (28; 228) and on the main valve (20; 220) of said coupling element,
- said main valve (20; 220) comprises a rear rod (32; 232) which extends behind the closing part (29; 229) and which is guided radially in the rear part (28, 228), and
- the skirt (35; 235) of the rear part (28; 228) is radially interposed between said main spring (24; 224) and the fluid circulating in the rear chamber (13; 213) of said connecting element (1; 201) in coupled configuration.
[15" id="c-fr-0015]
15. - Fluidic connection according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:
- the body (5; 205) of the male connector element (1; 201) comprises a cylindrical front external surface (88; 288) and a cylindrical intermediate external surface (89; 289), the intermediate external surface (89) being offset backwards with respect to the front external surface (88; 288) and of diameter greater than the diameter of the front external surface (88; 288);
- the body (105; 305) of the female connector element (101; 301) comprises a cylindrical front internal surface (188; 388) and a cylindrical intermediate internal surface (189; 389), which partially delimit the front volume (115; 315) of the female connector element (101; 301), the intermediate internal surface (189; 389) being offset towards the rear with respect to the front internal surface (188; 388) and of diameter less than diameter of the front internal surface (188; 388); and
- In the coupled configuration, the intermediate external surface (89; 289) is fitted with the front internal surface (188; 388) and the front external surface (88; 288) is fitted with the intermediate internal surface (189; 389).

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同族专利:

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公开号 | 公开日

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CN110608336A|2019-12-24|

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EP3581836B1|2021-02-24|

---

ES2867074T3|2021-10-20|

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FR3082588B1|2020-09-11|

---

US20190383433A1|2019-12-19|

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US10851929B2|2020-12-01|

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EP3581836A1|2019-12-18|

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GB2310471A|1996-02-23|1997-08-27|Dart Engineering Ag|Quick-acting coupling with valve|

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US9512948B2|2012-10-16|2016-12-06|Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Germany GmbH & Co. KG|Coaxial high-pressure coupling with overpressure relief|

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FR3046211B1|2015-12-23|2018-02-16|Staubli Sa Ets|MALE OR FEMALE ELEMENT FOR RAPID CONNECTION AND RAPID CONNECTION COMPRISING SUCH A MEMBER|US10505994B2|2015-10-20|2019-12-10|Intel Corporation|Technologies for scalable capability detection for multimedia casting|

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FR3080165B1|2018-04-12|2020-05-01|Staubli Faverges|FITTING ELEMENT AND FITTING COMPRISING SUCH A FITTING ELEMENT|

法律状态:
2019-06-25| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |

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2019-12-20| PLSC| Publication of the preliminary search report|Effective date: 20191220 |

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2020-06-25| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |

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2021-06-25| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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FR1855267|2018-06-15|

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FR1855267A|FR3082588B1|2018-06-15|2018-06-15|FLUIDIC CONNECTION|FR1855267A| FR3082588B1|2018-06-15|2018-06-15|FLUIDIC CONNECTION|

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US16/437,176| US10851929B2|2018-06-15|2019-06-11|Fluid coupling|

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ES19180253T| ES2867074T3|2018-06-15|2019-06-14|Fluid splice|

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EP19180253.7A| EP3581836B1|2018-06-15|2019-06-14|Fluid coupler|

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CN201910517917.1A| CN110608336A|2018-06-15|2019-06-14|Fluid connector|