HYDRAULIC AND/OR PNEUMATIC MULTI-COUPLING CONNECTOR WITH LEVER ACTUATED MECHANISM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydraulic and/or pneumatic multi-coupler connector of the type comprising at least one pair of couplers inserted into a containment body and equipped with a lever actuated mechanism comprising an actuation lever maneuverable by the user for the relief of the residual pressure of the couplers and the connection thereof to corresponding male couplers.

Claims

1. A connector device of the multi-coupler type comprising at least one pair of couplers inserted into a housing body and equipped with a lever actuated mechanism comprising an actuation lever maneuverable by the user for the relief of the residual pressure inside the couplers and the connection thereof to corresponding couplers, characterized in that said lever actuated mechanism further comprises a pair of cams, said cams being movable simultaneously and in a counterposed manner by said actuation lever.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuation lever is mechanically connected to a central pin so that the movement of said actuation lever sets in rotation said central pin on which said cams are rigidly engaged.

3. The connector device according to claim 2, characterized in that said actuation lever is shiftable between a rest position and a first position and between said rest position and a second position, wherein the shift of said lever from said rest position to said first position results in the rotation of said central pin and said two cams in a first direction of rotation, and wherein the shift of said lever from said rest position to said second position results in the rotation of said pin and said cams in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation.

4. The connector device according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotation of said cams in said first direction of rotation results in the actuation of a first coupler by one of said cams, and in that the rotation of said cams in said second direction of rotation results in the actuation of the second coupler of said at least two couplers by the second of said two cams.

5. The connector device according to the preceding claim 4, characterized in that the actuation of said first coupler involves the actuation of a pressure relief valve on the corresponding coupler and in that the actuation of said second coupler involves the actuation of a pressure relief valve on the corresponding coupler.

6. The connector device according to claim 5, characterized in that each of said cams comprises a central body from which a rod-like portion ending with a free end extends.

7. The connector device according to the preceding claim 6, characterized in that each of said central bodies comprises a seat for receiving the pin set in rotation by said actuation lever.

8. The connector device according to the preceding claim 7, characterized in that said pin comprises an engagement portion on which corresponding seats, respectively obtained in said central bodies, are engaged for shape and size.

9. The connector device according to claim 8, characterized in that said housing body is a single body without front access compartments.

10. The connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that said cams are housed inside an internal chamber of said housing body, said chamber being suitably shaped so as to lead in an obliged manner the positioning of the cams during the assembly thereof.

Description

LIST OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The present invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the case of hydraulic and/or pneumatic connectors of the multi-coupler type with lever actuation, this being the reason why the present invention will be clarified below with particular reference to the case of connectors of the aforesaid type; however, the possible applications of the present invention are not limited to connectors of the multi-coupler type with lever actuation. Conversely, the present invention finds application in connectors of different type, in particular in those in which the coupling of the male and female couplers provides for the prior relief of the residual pressure.

[0040] In the following, the present invention will be clarified in detail by means of the following detailed description of the (non-limiting) embodiments of the present invention depicted in the drawings, whereins:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a partial section view with a vertical transverse plane of the multi-coupler connector device with lever actuation according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the lever and the actuation cam are in rest position;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a partial section view with a vertical transverse plane of the multi-coupler connector device with lever actuation according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the actuation lever is lowered by the operator causing the rotation of a first cam;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a partial section view with a vertical transverse plane of the multi-coupler connector device with lever actuation according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the actuation lever is raised by the operator causing the rotation of the second cam;

[0044] Figures from 4a to 4c show the sequence of the assembly operations of the cams inside the connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 4d shows a partial section view with a horizontal transverse plane of the multi-coupler connector device with lever actuation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 shows construction details of the cams in a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] In the following description, the female coupler to which reference is made shall be intended purely by way of non-limiting example; therefore, the present invention may be applied to any type of coupler that makes the employment thereof useful, providing, of course, the appropriate modifications.

[0048] With particular reference to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 identifies the connector device of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] The multi-coupler device 1 comprises at least two female couplers 20a, 20b, each housed in a corresponding housing seat obtained inside a main housing body or block 30.

[0050] Inside the housing body 30, in accordance with tsolutions substantially known in the background art and therefore not described in detail for the sake of conciseness, connection channels 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d are suitably provided to convey the working fluid, in particular, oil or gas.

[0051] Among these, in the lower region of the main housing body or block 30, a fluid relief channel 40d is provided connected to a containment chamber 50 obtained inside the housing body or block 30 below the female couplers 20a, 20b.

[0052] The lower part of the couplers 20a, 20b comprises an actuation stem 21a, 21b each for the valve for relieving pressure from the respective couplers 20a, 20b, where, with each of the couplers 20a, 20b housed in the respective seat of the housing body 30 as represented, each of the stems 21a, 21b faces the housing or containment chamber 50.

[0053] Advantageously, the device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in the Figures comprises an actuation lever 10 protruding outside the housing body or block 30 so as to be actuatable by the user.

[0054] Said actuation lever 10 may in fact be moved by the user, in particular alternately upwards and downwards (with respect to the Figures), wherein the movement of the lever 10 determines a corresponding rotation in two respectively opposite directions of rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the Figures) of a pin or small shaft 11 for the movement of the cams.

[0055] Said pin 11, adapted, as said, to be set in rotation by means of said actuation lever 10, is in fact connected to a pair of cams 12a, 12b.

[0056] More in detail, the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in the Figures comprises a first cam 12a and a second cam 12b, each of which has an elongated body comprising a substantially rectilinear rod-like portion 13a, 13b which develops from a central body 14a, 14b having a seat for engaging on said pin or small shaft 11, and a free end 15a, 15b opposite to the engagement end, respectively 14a, 14b.

[0057] Each free end 15a, 15b is adapted to act in engagement (in particular, by pushing) with a pusher 16a and 16b, respectively, each of said pushers 16a and 16b being interposed between the end 15a and 15b, respectively, and the end of said stems 21a and 21b, respectively, for actuating the relief valves of the female couplers 20a and 20b, respectively, in accordance with the following modes.

[0058] As shown, said pin 11, at the end on which the cams 12a, 12b are assembled by engagement, has a square cross-sectional engagement portion (with rounded corners) adapted to be engaged by a seat of corresponding shape and size, obtained in the engagement portion 14a, 14b of the cam 12a and the cam 12b, respectively, where the shape and size tight fit between the square section portion of the pin 11 and the corresponding seats of the cams 12a and 12b allows that the rotation of the pin 11 in the two clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation (with respect to the Figures) results in a simultaneous rotation in the same direction of rotation, clockwise and, respectively, counterclockwise of the cams 12a and 12b.

[0059] The operation modes of the connector device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in the Figures may be summarized as follows.

[0060] In the starting configuration, also called neutral as depicted in FIG. 1, prior to the connection of the female couplers 20a and 20b with the couplers of the male type (not shown in the Figures), the lever and the pin 11 are both in neutral position, wherein each of the ends 15a and 15b of the cams 12a and 12b, respectively, engage, without pushing, with the pusher 16a, 16b, wherein each pusher 16a, 16b has, in accordance with essentially known modes, a top part shaped so as to allow the outflow of fluid from the decompression valves of the couplings 20a and 20b, respectively, in the chamber 50, and a hole in a substantially central position for the expulsion of the air.

[0061] Furthermore, the cams 12a and 12b are kept in the neutral position (substantially horizontal, FIG. 1) by means of two thrust springs (not shown in the Figures) each interposed between the pusher 16a, 16b and the end of the stem 21a and 21b, respectively.

[0062] In fact, without the aforesaid springs, an involuntary and/or accidental decompression may occur due to the weight of the lever subjected to the vibrations of the means or devices on which the system is assembled.

[0063] With reference to FIG. 2, when the user pushes the lever 10 downwards, the pin 11 is rotated counterclockwise with reference to the front view of FIG. 2, wherein, therefore, the cams 12a and 12b are rotated in the same counterclockwise direction of rotation, and therefore wherein the free end 15b of the cam 12b acts by pushing on the pusher 16b and causes the upwards shifting movement of the second pusher 16b, which therefore actuates the decompression valve of the second coupler 20b.

[0064] With reference to FIG. 3, in a way similar to what described above with reference to FIG. 2, it is noted how an upwards movement of the lever 10 involves a clockwise rotation of the pin 11, wherein, therefore, the cams 12a and 12b are rotated in the same clockwise direction of rotation, and therefore wherein the free end 15a of the cam 12a acts by pushing on the pusher 16a and causes the upwards shifting movement of the second pusher 16a, which therefore actuates the decompression valve of the second coupler 20a.

[0065] Each of the upwards and, respectively, downwards movements of the lever 10 results, therefore, in the simultaneous rotation of both cams 12a and 12b.

[0066] However, the device according to the embodiment of the present invention described herein with reference to the Figures allows the individual actuation of the single valves and, consequently, the connection of one coupler at a time.

[0067] The operator may act on the actuation lever 10 by pushing it downwards to decompress a line and connect a coupler, or, even afterwards, by pulling it upwards to decompress the other line and connect the other coupler.

[0068] With particular reference to Figures from 4a to 4c, the modes for assembling the cams 12a, 12b inside the device, in particular of the main housing body 30, will now be described.

[0069] By virtue of the splitting of the cams 12a, 12b forming part of the actuation means of the decompression valves of the couplers, each of said first cam 12a and second cam 12b may be assembled by means of the insertion inside the containment block 30 through the seat 22a and 22b, respectively, intended to house the couplers 20a and 20b, respectively.

[0070] Therefore, before the couplers 20a and 20b are inserted into the seats thereof inside the containment body 30, the cams are inserted through said seats, as shown in FIG. 4a. In particular, the cams are dropped by gravity inside the seats 22a, 22b of the couplers, making sure they are inserted with the central portion 14a, 14b downwards, until reaching the internal surface of the chamber 50, as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0071] Thereafter, the operator performing the assembly, manually or possibly by means of simple tools, leads the cams 12a and 12b so as to position them as shown in FIG. 4c, i.e. with the engagement portion 14b of the cam 12b superimposed on the engagement portion 14a of the cam 12a along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the pin or shaft 11 once assembled, and, in particular, with the engagement seats superimposed and aligned so as to be engaged by the square section engagement seat of the pin 11. It should be noted that to ensure the correct positioning of the cams 12a and 12b inside the housing body 30, as shown in the Figures, the chamber 50 is suitably shaped so as to ensure that the final positioning of the cams 12a, 12b inside the chamber 50 is the correct one.

[0072] In particular, it is noted how the cross section of said chamber 50 according to a substantially horizontal plane (FIG. 4d) has a shaping adapted to lead the cams 12a, 12b in the final position thereof. In particular, considering the views from 4a to 4c as front perspective views, the cam 12a is positioned in front with respect to the cam 12b. Considering this orientation system, in the sectional view of FIG. 4d it can be noticed how the rear wall of the chamber 50 has a tapering 50a narrowing the chamber 50 towards the front area of the body or block 30 (and, therefore, of the device), while the front wall of the chamber 50 has a tapering narrowing the chamber 50 towards the rear area of the body or block 30, so that the descent of the cams 12a and 12b along the seats 22a and 22b, respectively, until each adopting the horizontal position of the FIGS. 4c and 4d, results in the adoption by the cams 12a and 12b of the only mutual arrangement possible, i.e., that in which the central portion 14a of the first cam 12a is superimposed on the end 14b of the second cam 12b. Finally, it should be noted that each of the taperings 50a and 50b define an abutment or end-of-stroke surface 5ab and 50bb, respectively, which define the end-of-stroke position of the cam 12b and the cam 12a, respectively, during the descent thereof into the chamber 50, in accordance with the modes described above.

[0073] It has thus been shown, by means of the above detailed description of the embodiments of the connector device according to the present invention shown in the drawings, that the present invention allows to achieve the preset objects and, therefore to overcome or at least minimize the drawbacks observed in the devices of the background art.

[0074] In particular, the connector device according to the present invention, while allowing the actuation of a single coupler at a time with a simple and reliable mechanism, allows for assembly modes as simple and reliable, and, above all, avoids the need to set up an assembly window for the assembly of the cams, with obvious benefits both in terms of low assembly and production costs, and in terms of improved reliability, since the leakages which, conversely, occur in the devices of the background art at the assembly window itself are avoided.

[0075] The connector device according to the present invention is subject to those modifications which, based on the detailed description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, will be apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0076] For example, with reference to the shape of the engagement portion of the pin 11, shapes with sections different from a square one (with or without rounded corners) may be preferred, for example, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal sections, and so on.

[0077] In the same way, depending on the requirements and/or circumstances, both the number of couplers housed in the main body, as well as the type of couplers, male or female, may vary.

[0078] Finally, depending on the requirements and/or circumstances, the direction of rotation, clockwise or counterclockwise, of the pin 11, and therefore of the cams, generated by the upwards or downwards movement, respectively, of the lever 10, may be varied.

[0079] The scope of the present invention is therefore defined by the appended claims, which form an integral part of the text.