FLUID COUPLING

Abstract

A fluid coupling has two similar coupling halves, each with a rotary body of a valve. A drive device for closing/opening the valve is associated with each rotary body. Each half has a coupling means for connecting/decoupling the halves by relative rotation. Securing means secure the connection when at least one valve is open and close the two rotary valves to disconnect/connect the halves. The drive device is arranged on one half and has a drive shaft which is associated with a valve shaft of the rotary body of the other half. A locking connection is configured which, when the halves are connected, connects the drive shaft on one half to the valve shaft on the other in a non-rotatable/releasable manner such that the rotation of the rotary body is controllable and relative rotation of the halves is blocked but the relative rotation when the valves are closed is permitted.

Claims

1. Fluid coupling (1) comprising two coupling halves (2.1/2.2) which are releasably connected on their coupling sides (5.1/5.2), each coupling half having a coupling housing (3.1/3.2), being equipped with a rotary valve (6.1/6.2), being aligned along a coupling axis (4), and being formed correspondingly similar to each other in such a manner that each rotary valve (6.1/6.2) has a rotary body (7.1/7.2) mounted on the coupling housing (3.1/3.2) so as to be rotatable about a valve axis (9.1/9.2), which is directed transversely to the coupling axis (4), and a fluid passage (8.1/8.2) which traverses this rotary body, said fluid passage closing and opening the rotary valve (6.1/6.2) depending on controllable rotational positions of the rotary body (7.1/7.2) about the valve axis (9.1/9.2), in that a drive device (10.1/10.2), which is associated in each case with one of the rotary bodies (7.1/7.2) for controlling its rotational position, is arranged on each coupling half (2.1/2.2), in that each coupling half (2.1/2.2) is equipped with a coupling means (11.1/11.2) which connects the coupling halves (2.1/2.2), it being possible for the connection to be established releasably for uncoupling and conversely for coupling by relative rotational movement of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) about the coupling axis (4), and in that the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) have securing means (12.1/12.2) which block the relative rotational movement for securing the connection of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) when at least one rotary valve (6.1/6.2) is open and which secure the closure of the two rotary valves (6.1/6.2) for disconnecting and correspondingly for connecting the coupling halves (2.1/2.2), characterised in that the drive device (10.1/10.2), which is arranged in each case on the one coupling half (2.1/2.2), has a drive shaft (16.1/16.2) which is associated in each case with a valve shaft (17.2/17.1) of the rotary body (7.2/7.1) of the rotary valve (6.2/6.1) of the other coupling half (2.2/2.1), whereby in each case, a locking connection (13.2/13.1) is configured which, when the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) are connected to each other, connects the respective drive shaft (16.1/16.2) on the one coupling half (2.1/2.2) to the respective valve shaft (17.1/17.2) on the other coupling half (2.2/2.1) in a non-rotatable and releasable manner such that the rotational position of this rotary body (7.2/7.1) is controllable thereby and the relative rotational movement of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) about the coupling axis (4) is blocked but the relative rotational movement when the rotary valves (6.1/6.2) are closed is permitted.

2. Fluid coupling according to claim 1 characterized in that in each case the drive device (10.1/10.2) on the one coupling half (2.1/2.2) has a drive connection piece (14.1/14.2) fixed to the coupling housing (3.1/3.2), which drive connection piece rotatably supports the drive shaft (16.1/16.2) about a drive axis (15.1/15.2) that is directed transversely to the housing axis (35.1/35.2) of the coupling half (2.1/2.2), and in that the valve shaft (17.2/17.1) is exposed outside on the coupling housing (3.2/3.1) of the other coupling half (2.2/2.1) for driving the rotation of the rotary body (7.2/7.1) of the associated rotary valve (6.2/6.1), wherein the drive shaft (16.1/16.2) and the valve shaft (17.1/17.2), which are each components of the same coupling housing (3.1/3.2), are arranged offset at a peripheral angle to each other, wherein in each case the drive connection piece (14.1/14.2) supporting the drive shaft (16.1/16.2), which drive connection piece is fixed to the one coupling housing (3.1/3.2), protrudes so far beyond the other coupling housing (3.2/3.1) on the outside that the locking connection (13.2/13.1) is configured there when the two coupling halves (2.1/2.2) are releasably connected.

3. (canceled)

4. Fluid coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that in each case the drive connection piece (14.1/14.2) of the drive device (10.1/10.2) of the one coupling half (2.1/2.2) is configured as a coupling dog (18.1/18.2), forming a component of the associated coupling means (11.1/11.2), with a gripping edge (19.1/19.2) which releasably engages behind an associated radial projection (20.2/20.1) on the coupling housing (3.2/3.1) of the other coupling half (2.2/2.1) to releasably connect the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) while clamping the coupling sides (5.1/5.2) to one another, wherein the gripping edge (19.1/19.2) and the radial projection (20.1/20.2) form a dog connection pair and can be engaged and correspondingly disengaged by the relative rotational movement of the two coupling halves (2.1/2.2) about the coupling axis (4).

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. Fluid coupling according to claim 4, characterized in that for centring the connection of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) each of the two dog connection pairs is centred conically, wherein the gripping edge (19.1/19.2) and the associated radial projection (20.1/20.2) are directed backwards, transversely to the coupling axis (4) and obliquely outwards and, pointing away from the coupling side (5.1/5.2), wherein they fit snugly into each other.

8. Fluid coupling according to claim 4, characterized in that in each case the drive connection piece (14.1/14.2) of the one coupling half (2.1/2.2) is formed by a surface segment which extends over a quarter of a cylindrical circumference of the fluid coupling (1) and which is associated with a corresponding free peripheral region (26.1/26.2) on the outside of the coupling housing (3.2/3.1) to establish the connection of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) to the respective other coupling half (2.2/2.1).

9. Fluid coupling according to claim 8, characterized in that in each case the surface segment of the one coupling half (2.1/2.2) is concentric with a circular cylinder outer surface of the coupling housing (3.2/3.1) of the other coupling half (2.2/2.1).

10.-11. (canceled)

12. Fluid coupling according to claim 8, characterized in that in each case the locking connection (13.1/13.2) is formed by a positive-fit connection to connection partners forming locking elements (27.1/27.2; 34.1/34.2) which are arranged on the drive device (10.2/10.1) and the rotary body (7.1/7.2) associated with the drive.

13. Fluid coupling according to claim 12, characterized in that the connection partners of the positive-fit connection are formed by at least one spring element (29.1/29.2) as well as, associated therewith, at least one first groove (30.2/30.1) which is non-rotatably connected to the rotary body (7.2/7.1) associated with the locking connection (13.2/13.1), wherein the at least one spring element (29.1/29.2) is held captive in the at least one first groove (30.2/30.1) when the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) are connected and locked against their relative rotational movement.

14. Fluid coupling according to claim 13, characterized in that the connection partners of the positive-fit connection have at least one second groove (31.2/31.1) which is aligned with the at least one first groove (30.2/30.1) only in a rotational position of the at least one first groove (30.2/30.1) which pertains to the closed position of the associated rotary valve (6.2/6.1), wherein the at least one spring element (29.1/29.2) can be guided through the at least one aligned second groove (31.2/31.1) to leave and to establish the captive holding connection and thus to enable the relative rotational movement of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2).

15. (canceled)

16. Fluid coupling according to claim 14, characterized in that the locking connection (13.1/13.2) in each case is formed with a stop abutment (33.1/33.2) which limits the relative rotational movement of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2) about the coupling axis (4) in a defined manner.

17. Fluid coupling according to claim 16, characterized in that in each case the fluid passage (8.1/8.2) of the rotary body (7.1/7.2) of the associated rotary valve (6.1/6.2) and the associated locking connection (13.1/13.2) are adapted to one another in such a way that the rotary valve (6.1/6.2) is closed at least up to a switching angle of 10°, wherein the switching angle is the angle by which the rotary body (7.1/7.2) can be rotated about its valve axis (9.1/9.2) from the rotational position, when there is free relative rotational movement of the coupling halves (2.1/2.2), to open the rotary valve (6.1/6.2).

18. (canceled)

19. Fluid coupling according to claim 17, characterized in that the rotary valves (6.1/6.2) of the two coupling halves (2.1/2.2) are plug valves.

20. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) of a fluid coupling (1), in particular one of the two corresponding similar coupling halves (2.1/2.2) of the fluid coupling (1) according to claim 19, wherein the coupling half (2.1/2.2), which has a coupling housing (3.1/3.2) with coupling side (5.1/5.2) and housing axis (35.1/35.2), is an independent coupling part for making the fluid coupling (1) with a similar coupling part formed by the corresponding coupling half (2.1/2.2) and wherein the coupling half (2.1/2.2) has a rotary valve (6.1/6.2) with a rotary body (7.1/7.2) rotatably supported on the coupling housing (3.1/3.2), a fluid passage (8.1/8.2) passing through the rotary body and the rotational position of which is controllable for opening and closing of the fluid passage (8.1/8.2) and thus of the rotary valve (6.1/6.2), characterized in that a switchable drive device (10.1/10.2) is arranged and configured on the coupling half (2.1/2.2) which drive device has a drive shaft (16.1/16.2) for controlling drive connection and securing connection to a valve shaft (17.1/17.2) of a rotary body (7.2/7.1) of a rotary valve (6.2/6.1) of a correspondingly similar couplable coupling half (2.2/2.1), and in that the rotary valve (6.1/6.2) belonging to the coupling half (2.1/2.2) has a valve shaft (17.1/17.2) exposed on the outside of the coupling housing (3.1/3.2) for drive connection and securing connection to a correspondingly controlling drive device (10.2/10.1) of the correspondingly similar coupling half (2.2/2.1).

21. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 20, characterized in that the drive device (10.1/10.2) has a drive connection piece (14.1/14.2) fixed to the coupling housing (3.1/3.2), which drive connection piece protrudes in front of the coupling side (5.1/5.2) parallel to the housing axis (35.1/35.2) and supports the drive shaft (16.1/16.2).

22. (canceled)

23. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 21, that the drive shaft (16.1/16.2) and the valve shaft (17.1/17.2) are arranged on the circumference of the coupling half (2.1/2.2) offset by 180°.

24. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 23, that a coupling dog (18.1/18.2) of the coupling half (2.1/2.2) is a component of the drive device (10.1/10.2), wherein the coupling dog (18.1/18.2) is configured to establish a coupling connection together with the corresponding coupling dog (18.2/18.1) of the correspondingly similar coupling half (2.2/2.1).

25. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 24, characterized in that a housing base (22.1/22.2), which accommodates the valve shaft (17.1/17.2) of the rotary body (7.1/7.2), is formed outside on the coupling housing (3.1/3.2) and has a base edge (23.1/23.2) which is formed for engaging with a gripping edge (19.2/19.2) of the coupling dog (18.2/18.1) of the correspondingly similar coupling half (2.2/2.1).

26. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 25, that the drive shaft (16.1/16.2) of the controlling drive device (10.1/10.2) has a first locking element (27.1/27.2) which can be non-rotatably connected to the valve shaft (17.2/17.1) of the rotary body (7.2/7.1) of the rotary valve (6.2/6.1) of the relevant coupling half (2.1/2.2) for rotational movement, it being possible to place the locking element in a defined rotational position closing the rotary valve (6.2/6.1), only in which a locking connection (13.2/13.1) to the valve shaft (17.2/17.1) of the corresponding coupling half (2.2/2.1) can be established and released, and in that the valve shaft (17.1/17.2) of the rotary body (7.1/7.2) of the rotary valve (6.1/6.2) of the coupling half (2.1/2.2) has a second locking element (34.1/34.2) which is configured with the one first drive element (27.2/27.1) of the corresponding coupling half (2.2/2.1) to produce a locking connection (13.1/13.2), which opens the rotary valve (6.1/6.2), is at the same time captive, and can only be released when the rotary valve (6.1/6.2) is closed.

27. (canceled)

28. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 27, characterized in that the second locking element (34.1/34.2) has at least one first groove (30.1/30.2) for establishing a positive-fit connection to the first locking element (27.2/27.1) of the corresponding coupling half (3.2/3.1), which groove is formed on the valve shaft (17.1/17.2) rotatably supporting the rotary body (7.1/7.2) on the coupling housing (3.1/3.2), and is exposed on the outside of the coupling housing (3.1/3.2).

29. Coupling half (2.1/2.2) according to claim 28, characterized in that the second locking element (34.1/34.2) has at least one second groove (31.1/31.2) which is configured on the coupling housing (3.1/3.2), exposed on the outside, as a groove directed transversely to the housing axis (35.1/35.2) and is only aligned with the at least one first groove (31.1/31.2) in a rotational position of the valve shaft (17.1/17.2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The drawings show:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a fluid coupling according to the invention in releasable coupling connection of two similar coupling halves with closed rotary valves;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a axonometric projection view of a coupling half with closed rotary valve disconnected from the fluid coupling according to FIG. 1;

[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a longitudinal sectional view of the fluid coupling according to FIG. 1 and a cross-sectional view according to A-A through a locking connection on one of the coupling halves with closed rotary valve;

[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B are a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling half according to FIG. 1 and a cross-sectional view according to B-B through the locking connection with open rotary valve; and

[0027] FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of embodiments of valve shafts of locking connections of coupling halves according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] An inventive fluid coupling 1 according to FIG. 1 is generally assembled from two similar coupling halves 2.1 and 2.2 symmetrical along a separating plane 39. In the fluid coupling 1, housing axes 35.1/35.2 of the two coupling halves 2.1/2.2 coincide with a central coupling axis 4. FIG. 2 shows the left-hand of the two coupling halves in FIG. 1 with the number 1 added to the reference numbers. The second coupling half 2.2, on the right in FIG. 1 and identical in the embodiment, is described, as in the other associated figures, with reference numbers provided with the additional number 2.

[0029] Although the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 in the embodiment are completely identical, the description of the locking connections 13.1/13.2 according to the invention applies equally and generally to coupling halves according to the invention with rotary valves, in which the coupling halves are formed on their coupling sides, for example, with different sealing means or with rotary bodies of rotary valves which interlock for connecting. Coupling connection parts of the coupling halves, such as nozzles for pipes, tanks or the like, may also be of different design.

[0030] In the embodiment, each coupling half 2.1/2.2 has a rotary valve 6.1/6.2 with a rotary body 7.1/7.2 in the form of a valve ball. The rotary body 7.1/7.2 is rotatably supported on a coupling housing 3.1/3.2, which has circular cylindrical sections, about a valve axis 9.1/9.2 which is directed perpendicular to the housing axis 35.1/35.2. The housing axis 35.1/35.2 is the cylinder axis of the coupling housing 3.1/3.2. Each coupling half 2.1/2.2 has a coupling connection part 40.1/40.2 which is fitted into the coupling housing 3.1/3.2 in a sealed manner. Axis-parallel passage spaces of the coupling housing 3.1/3.2 and the coupling connection part 40.1/40.2 define a flow path for the fluid in which the rotary body 7.1/7.2 is arranged.

[0031] In the embodiment, the coupling connection part 40.1/40.2 is fitted with a screw thread for screw connection to a pipe not illustrated here. The one coupling housing 3.1/3.2 of the one coupling half 2.1/2.2 has a coupling side 5.1/5.2 for coupling connection to the other similar coupling half 2.2/2.1 provided as the mating part. Parts fitted into each other as well as parts of each coupling half 2.1/2.2 which are movable with respect to each other are sealed against fluid passage using conventional sealing means such as gaskets.

[0032] The rotary body 7.1/7.2 has a fluid passage 8.1/8.2 passing through it. Depending on the rotational position of the rotary body 7.1/7.2 about the valve axis 9.1/9.2, the rotary valve 6.1/6.2 is either open, when the fluid passage 8.1/8.2 is aligned parallel to the housing axis 35.1/35.2, i.e. axis-parallel, or closed, when the fluid passage 8.1/8.2 is brought into a position transverse and finally perpendicular to the housing axis 35.1/35.2 or to the fluid path. When the rotary valves 6.1/6.2 are open, the flow path through the fluid coupling is enabled.

[0033] The rotary body 7.1/7.2 can generally be rotatably supported about the valve axis 9.1/9.2 on the coupling housing 3.1/3.2 in any suitable manner with bearing shafts, such as journals or the like, which are non-rotatably connected to the rotary body 7.1/7.2. A bearing shaft of the shaft bearing is formed by a valve shaft 17.1/17.2, by means of which the rotary body 7.1/7.2 can be rotated, i.e. can be switched, about the valve axis 9.1/9.2 into the closed position and the open position of the rotary valve 6.1/6.2.

[0034] According to the invention, a drive shaft 16.1/16.2 is formed in a special manner as a component of a drive device 10.1/10.2 and the locking connection 13.1/13.2. Substantial features of the locking connection 13.1/13.2, which are generally defined by interconnected locking elements, can be seen in particular from FIG. 1, FIGS. 3A and B as well as FIGS. 4A and B. Arranged on each coupling half 2.1/2.2 is one of the drive devices 10.1/10.2 with associated drive shaft 16.1/16.2 for connection to the valve shaft 17.2/17.1 of the respective other coupling half 2.2/2.1.

[0035] FIGS. 3A and 3B as well as 4A and 4B show in greater detail the drive device 10.1 which is arranged on the coupling half 2.1 and is associated with the rotary valve 6.2 of the coupling half 2.2. The drive device 10.1 has the drive shaft 16.1 which is associated with the valve shaft 17.2 of the rotary body 7.2 of the rotary valve 6.2. On the coupling half 2.2, this association includes the locking connection 13.2 which, when the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 are interconnected, connects the drive shaft 16.1 non-rotatably to the valve shaft 17.2. By means of this connection, the rotational positions of the rotary body 7.2 can be controlled by means of the drive device 10.1 arranged on the coupling half 2.1, and in addition a relative rotational movement of the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 about the coupling axis 4 is blocked but the relative rotational movement when the rotary valve 6.1/6.2 are closed is permitted.

[0036] The drive device 10.1 generally has a drive connection piece 14.1 fixed to the coupling housing 3.1 which protrudes parallel to the housing axis 35.1 and consequently also parallel to the coupling axis 4 in front of the coupling side 5.1 and supports the drive shaft 16.1, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2. The drive shaft 16.1 is so far distant from the separating plane 39 or the coupling side 5.1 that it is located with the valve shaft 17.2 in a common connection plane 44.2 perpendicular to the coupling axis 4. The drive shaft 16.1 of the controlling drive device 10.1 has a first locking element 27.1 which can be non-rotatably connected (FIG. 2) and is non-rotatably connected (FIG. 1, FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIGS. 4A and 4B) to the valve shaft 17.2 of the coupling half 2.2 for rotational movement, which first locking element can be put into the defined rotational position which closes the rotary valve 6.2, only in which the locking connection 13.2 to the valve shaft 17.2 can be established and released.

[0037] The valve shaft 17.2 of the rotary body 7.2 of the rotary valve 6.2 has a second locking element 34.2 which is configured to establish the captive locking connection 13.2 to the first locking element 27.1 of the coupling half 2.1, which opens the rotary valve 6.2 and can only be released when the rotary valve 6.2 is closed.

[0038] The first locking element 27.1 is generally configured to establish a positive-fit connection to the second locking element 34.2 of the coupling half 2.2. The first locking element 27.1 is a spring element 29.1 formed on the drive shaft 16.1 of the drive device 10.1. The second locking element 34.2 has an associated first groove 30.2 for establishing the positive-fit connection to the spring element 29.1, which groove is formed on the valve shaft 17.2 which rotatably supports the rotary body 7.2 and is exposed therewith on the outside of the coupling housing 3.2. The first groove 30.2 is formed by a through-slot which is configured in the front face of the valve shaft 17.2 which is circular in cross-section. The second locking element 34.2 has a second groove 31.2 which is stationary on the coupling housing 3.2, is open to the outside and is configured as a transverse groove, i.e. directed perpendicular to the housing axis 35.2, which only aligns with the first groove 30.2 in a correspondingly transversely directed rotational position of the valve shaft 17.2, namely in the rotational position of the rotary body 7.2 which closes the rotary valve 6.2. In the positive-fit connection, the first locking element 27.1/27.2 with concave surfaces is generally adapted to corresponding convex surfaces of the second locking element 34.2/34.1.

[0039] FIGS. 3A and 3B as well as FIG. 1 show the rotary valve 6.2 in the closed position. In this position, the spring element 29.1 of the drive shaft 16.1 is located in a plane transverse or perpendicular to the flow path or the housing axis 35.2. The spring element 29.1 aligns the first groove 30.2, which is introduced into the free end face of the valve shaft 17.2, in the same circumferential direction transverse to the housing axis 35.2 on the circumference of the coupling housing 3.2, the rotary valve 6.2 being closed. In this rotational position of the valve shaft 17.2, the first groove 30.2 aligns with the second stationary groove 31.2. It is thus achieved that the two coupling halves 2.1/2.2 can be rotated with respect to each other about the coupling axis 4. Release of the spring element 29.1 from the first groove 30.2 can only take place in one direction through the second groove 31.2 or in the reverse direction for insertion into the first groove 30.2, as the first groove 30.2 is closed with a stop abutment 33.2 on the side opposing the second groove 31.2.

[0040] The spring element 29.1 is held captive in the first groove 30.2 when the coupling halves are connected and blocked against their relative rotational movement about the coupling axis 4. The captive holding connection is formed in that the valve shaft 17.2 and thus the first groove 30.2 is located in a chamber-like recess of a housing base 22.2 which forms a padding. The cross-section of the recess corresponds to the cylindrical circular cross-section of the valve shaft 17.2. With the exception of the rotational position of the valve shaft 17.2, in which the first groove 30.2 aligns with the second groove 31.2, the first groove 30.2 remains closed laterally by the edge of the recess. In the rotational position of the rotary body 7.2 associated with the closed first groove 30.2, the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 are joined together to form the fluid coupling 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the fluid coupling 1 with the fully open rotary valve 6.2 and the associated position of the locking connection 13.2. In the aligned position of the grooves, the recess edge forms the stop abutment 33.2 which limits the relative rotational movement of the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 about the coupling axis 4 in a defined manner for connection.

[0041] In each case, the drive shaft 16.1/16.2 is non-rotatably connected, by a screw connection in the embodiment, to an actuating means 36.1/36.2 which is formed in the embodiment by an actuating handle. With this actuating means 36.1/36.2 on the one coupling half 2.1/2.2, the rotary valve 6.1/6.2 on the corresponding other coupling half 2.2/2.1 is thus rotatably operated and therefore switched. The actuating means can be provided by a motorised means such as an actuator for automatic operation.

[0042] The drive device 10.1 and the locking connection 13.2, as shown with FIGS. 3B and 4B on the second coupling half 2.2, have been described above. It is part of the invention that the drive device 10.2 and the locking connection 13.1 on the coupling half 2.1 are designed and configured exactly as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0043] The first locking elements 27.1/27.2 and the second locking elements 34.1/34.2 form connection partners which can generally form a coding, i.e. a type of key/lock connection. In the embodiment, the key/lock connection is defined by the spring element 29.1/29.2 which is flat and engages precisely in the associated slot-shaped first groove 30.2/30.1. For example, a key/lock connection can also be formed in that the second locking element 34.1/34.2 has a double groove 41.1/41.2 with parallel continuous parallel grooves introduced into the valve shaft 17.1/17.2, as is shown in FIG. 5A. This connection includes two suitable spring elements, not shown, which are arranged in parallel on the drive shaft 16.1/16.2 as well as a second groove or recess of the second locking element, not shown, for alignment with the groove 41.1/41.2. FIG. 5B also shows an example of a key/lock connection. Here the second locking element has a triangular-shaped groove 42.1/42.2 configured in the valve shaft 17.1/17.2, a stop abutment 33.1/33.2 being formed there by a ligament wall of the triangular-shaped groove 42.1/42.2. This connection includes a correspondingly formed spring element, not shown, of the drive shaft 16.2/16.1 as well as a second groove or recess, not shown, of the second locking element for alignment with an open side of the groove 42.1/42.2.

[0044] In each case, the drive shaft 16.1/16.2 and the valve shaft 17.1/17.2 are offset by 180° on the transverse circumference of the coupling half 2.1/2.2. A mirror-image identity of the two coupling halves 2.1/2.2 in respect of the separating plane 39 is achieved which makes the spatial arrangement of the drive devices 10.1/10.2 and thus of the locking connections 13.1/13.2 particularly favourable and simplifies handling of the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 for connecting, as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4B. However, the peripheral offset of the drive shaft and the valve shaft on the circumference of each one of the two coupling halves is not limited to 180°. The drive shaft and the valve shaft on one coupling half in each case need not be in a vertical plane, however, the peripheral offset of the coupling halves associated with the fluid coupling must be provided with identical peripheral angles in the opposite direction.

[0045] Each coupling half 2.1/2.2 is equipped with a coupling means 11.1/11.2 in such a manner that, for joining to each other in the line of the coupling axis 4, the two coupling halves 2.1/2.2 can be drawn together with their coupling sides 5.1/5.2 by means of relative rotational movement about the coupling axis 4 to create a clamping connection or can be released. For example, customary connecting parts, not shown, of a bayonet-type coupling connection can be provided as coupling means. A particular embodiment of the invention, however, consists in that, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4B, in each case the drive connection piece 14.1/14.2 of the drive device 10.1/10.2 of each coupling half 2.1/2.2 in the shape of a single coupling dog 18.1/18.2 forms a component of the coupling means 11.1/11.2.

[0046] The coupling dog 18.1/18.2 has a gripping edge 19.1/19.2 which releasably engages behind an associated radial projection 20.2/20.1 on the coupling housing 3.2/3.1 of the respective other coupling half 2.2/2.1 for releasably connecting while clamping the coupling sides 5.1/5.2 to one another. Reciprocally, the gripping edge 19.1/19.2 and the radial projection 20.2/20.1 in each case form a dog connection pair and can be engaged and correspondingly disengaged by the relative rotational movement of the two coupling halves 2.1/2.2 about the coupling axis 4. On each coupling half 2.1/2.2, the radial projection 20.1/20.2 is formed by a rear base edge 23.1/23.2 of a housing base 22.1/22.2, directed away from the coupling side 5.1/5.2, which accommodates the valve shaft 17.1/17.2 in a recessed position.

[0047] Each of the two dog connection pairs is centred conically, the gripping edge 19.1/19.2 and the associated radial projection 20.2/20.1 being directed backwards, transversely to the coupling axis 4 and obliquely outwards and, pointing away from the coupling side 5.1/5.2, and fit snugly into each other. One advantage of the conical centring is that the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 are thus connected particularly rigidly and are fixed radially to each other so that they cannot be moved. A further means for centring the connection of the coupling halves 2.1/2.2, whereby in particular the design of the coupling means 11.1/11.2 is only optimised with the two coupling dogs 18.1/18.2, consists in that a housing outer edge 24.1/24.2 is formed in each case on the dome-side end of the one coupling housing 3.1/3.2, which housing outer edge fits snugly into a complementary inner edge 25.2/25.1 of the drive connection piece 14.2/14.1 arranged on the other coupling housing 3.2/3.1, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 1.

[0048] As is particularly obvious from FIGS. 2, 3A and 4A, each drive connection piece 14.1/14.2 and thus each coupling dog 18.1/18.2 is generally formed by a flat surface segment which extends in the circumferential direction transversely to the housing axis 35.1/35.2 at least approximately over a quarter of the cylindrical circumference of the coupling housing 3.1/3.2 or the fluid coupling 1. The surface segment is associated with a corresponding free peripheral region 26.1/26.2 outside on the coupling housing 3.2/3.1 on the respective other coupling half 2.2/2.1. On the one hand, these surface segments achieve that the coupling dog 18.1/18.2 is a particularly flat but nevertheless highly loadable component for coupling, and on the other hand, the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 can be joined to each other, guided in a special manner.

[0049] To establish the locking connection 13.1/13.2 according to the invention, the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 are positioned such that the surface segments of the coupling dogs 18.1/18.2 are pushed in each case into a space formed by the free peripheral region 26.1/26.2 between the drive connection piece 14.1/14.2 and the housing base 22.1/22.2 until the coupling side 5.1/5.2 touch each other in the separating plane 39. In the process, the two drive shafts 16.1/16.2 are located at a peripheral distance of 90° or approximately 90°. The guidance generally arises in that, when the two coupling halve 2.1/2.2 are pushed together, axis-parallel flanks or edges 43.1/43.2 of the drive connection pieces 14.1/14.2 are in sliding contact with each other for positioning the coupling halves 2.1/2.2. When the coupling sides 5.1/5.2 abut against each other, in each case the locking means 27.1/27.2 and 34.2/34.1 are then in the aligned position in their connection plane 44.1/44.2, such that the two coupling halves can be placed comfortably in their coupling connection position by rotating them about the coupling axis 4 until the abutment stops 33.1/33.2 are reached. Torques transmitted in each case via the actuating means 36.1/36.2 can be transferred in each case from the one coupling half 2.1 to the other coupling half 2.2 for reciprocal rotary driving of the rotary bodies 7.1/7.2 of the rotary valves 6.1/6.2. While in each case the non-rotatable axial shaft assembly of drive shaft 16.1/16.2 and valve shaft 17.2/17.1 is rotated, the spring element 29.1/29.2 is captive in the recess of the valve shaft 17.1/17.2 forming the chamber.

[0050] As described, the drive devices 10.1/10.2 and locking connections 13.1/13.2 with the locking elements 27.1/27.2 and 34.1/34.2 according to the invention do not only connect the drive shafts 16.1/16.2 to the valve shafts 17.2/17.1 in the fluid coupling 1. At the same time, they generally form securing means 12.1/12.2 which block the relative rotational movement of the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 about the coupling axis 4 for securing the coupling connection when at least one rotary valve 6.1/6.2 is open, while the first locking element 27.1/27.2 is captive in the chamber-like recess of the second locking element 34.2/34.1, and which also secure the closing of the two rotary valves 6.1/6.2 for disconnecting and correspondingly for connecting the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 in that the rotational movement of the coupling halves 2.1/2.2 about the coupling axis 4 is only enabled when the rotary valves 6.1/6.2 are both closed, the first locking element 27.1/27.2 in each case aligning with a part of the second locking element 34.2/34.1 in the circumferential direction.

[0051] In general, in each case the design or size of the fluid passage 8.1/8.2 of the rotary body 7.1/7.2 in the associated rotary valve 6.1/6.2 and the associated locking connection 13.1/13.2 are advantageously adapted to one another in such a manner that the rotary valve 6.1/6.2 remains closed at least up to a switching angle of 10°. The switching angle is the angle by which the rotary body 7.1/7.2 can be rotated about its valve axis 9.1/9.2 from the rotational position, when there is free relative rotational movement of the coupling halves, to open the rotary valve 6.1/6.2. The rotary valve 6.1/6.2 is fully open at a switching angle of 90°.