PIPE COUPLING DEVICE

Abstract

In the coupling arrangement, a second element is configured to facilitate the insertion of a preselected portion of a first element (25) from its proximal end into the second element (35) through the proximal end of the latter. A housing is provided about a portion of the second element extending from the proximal end. The housing is slidable about the second element between a first position in which the first element is freely insertable into the second element to form a flow path between openings of the two elements, and a second position. In the second position, the first element is locked in the second element, to prevent the extraction of the former from the latter.

Description

TITLE COUPLING DEVICE FOR TU 3 ACTION INV. DES. PERETZ KORESH PRIORITY ISRAEL DOM.RREV.N.69886 OF 3 OCTOBER 1983 OCT. 1387 £ ί £ i THE DIRECTOR Rome, The Reg. A - N. Prot............β.7 9.6 9 À / 8 4 PROVINCIAL OFFICE OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND CRAFTS OF TURIN Minutes of filing of patent application for industrial invention The year of the month of The Company 1984 Day TWENTY-EIGHT SEPTEMBER DAN MAMTIRIM Kibbntz Dan Galli Elyon 12 245 Israel, Israeli nationality, represented by Messrs. Filippo Jacobacci, Guido Jacobacci, Aurelio Perani, Gian Antonio Pancot, Piero Saconney, Lieutenant Saglifiitip Jorquato Vannini, Carlo Mezzanotte, Giovanni Sertoll, Viola Violi, Franco Buzzi, Roberto Porta, Giancarlo Notaro, Roberto De Nova, Giuseppe Oulnterno, Massimo Introvigne, Luciano Bosotti of the company Jacobacci-Casetta & Perani SpA, domiciled at the latter in Via Alfieri 17, Turin, and with domicile of choice for legal purposes also « pursuant to art. 75, 3° c. of Royal Decree 29 June 1939. N. 1127 and art. 56, 2 c. of the Royal Decree, 21 June 1942, No. 929 », at the aforementioned agents at the aforementioned address of Jacobacci-Casetta & Perani SpA in 10121 TURIN, Via Alfieri 17 has presented, to me, the undersigned, a stamped application for the granting of an industrial invention patent for the invention having as its title; Pipe coupling device Inventor and designee: Peretz KORESH Priority: The right of priority deriving from: a) previous patent application No. 69886 filed in Israel on October 3, 1983 par nwto f '· prcronLite contempcrare» rl.-n•-.'te of mc-rliHo tVuteità a ηOM» Attached documentation: deii'ari.4 DL26 / 6 / 19-*oN. 1411. Miscellaneous notes: 53864 B / 8 4 a) description, in duplicate, of n. pages of writing; b) drawings, ste=dupUee=oopla^of 4 tables; (provisional regulations follow) c) letter of lncar,co?=proeufe=e=rliefimest©=&!pfeetire=^efleraJe^(reserved) d) priority document with Italian translation; (reservation) / d) authorization or deed of transfer; f) designation of inventor; g) proof of payment (on postal account no. 00668004, made out to the Tax and Concession Registry Office of Rome) of lire dated h) revenue stamp 202,000 of L. 3,000. issued by the Turin Post Office n. Φί -knows The application, description and drawings listed above have been signed by the interested party and countersigned by me and stamped with the office stamp. A copy of this report was signed by me and delivered to the interested party. p. The Depositor THE AUTHORIZED OFFICER MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND CRAFTS CENTRAL PATENT OFFICE - ROME I . DAN KAMTIfilW ; JKibbutz Dan, Galli ELyon 12 245 - Israel® t ! Israeli nationality there ! through the agents Messrs. Filippo Jacobacci, Guido Jacobacci, Aurelio : j Perani, Gian Antonio Pancot, Piero Saconney, Torquato Vannini, Carlo Mez- | . , ! | zanott, Giovanni Sertoli, Viola Violi, Franco Buzzi, Roberto Porta, Giancarlo ; . I , Notaro, Roberto De Nova,'Giuseppe Quinterno, Massimo Introvigne, Luciano J. r ί Bosotti of the company Jacobacci-Casetta & Perani SpA, domiciled at ; .............................................. ............ ' ! ; the latter in Via Alfieri 17, Turin, and with domicile for legal purposes also « pursuant to art. 75, 3' c. of the Royal Decree of 29 June 1939, ii . N. 1127 and of art. 56, 2nd paragraph of Royal Decree 21 June 1942, N. 929 », at the aforementioned; ί ! agents at the above address of Jacobacci-Casetta & Perani SpA in ì 10121 TURIN, Via Alfieri 17 requests the granting of a Patent for: ϊ ; ................- - .........................i ' INDUSTRIAL INVENTION entitled i ' i ........ ......... ' ...... ............... > s I i - Pipe coupling device ' j I : Inventor Designated: Peretz KORESH 65437» CaBθ 1 67369A / 84 For this vtw I present the eonteift* poraocit ίϊοπΊΛιirb of nmiUJIo of ptility to nOPIM of the art 4 pL, iìb / b / i·- ih «411· . . Priority - the right deriving from: previous patent application No. 6j$S>6 dated October 3, 1983 filed in Israel 638GU / 84 THE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION Description In duplicate (pages / 4 of writing) i k^dapHee^oopia drawings (number 4 tables) (provisional regulations follow); Letter of appointment (reserve) Priority document with Italian translation (reserve) Inventor designation ί Proof of payment (on current account No. 00668004) Made out to the Registry and Concessions Office of Rome of L. 202,000.- j ì . ______________ _________- 4 ...............--......--.....................j issued by the Turin Post Office on 26.9.1984 N, ; : Κ - ί : N. 1 Revenue stamp of L. 3,000 Turin, 28 September 1984; for the purpose of » \ t DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled: Pipe coupling device by: DAN WA.'-'.TIRIII, Israeli nationality, Kibbutz Dan, Gali], THE Flyon 12 245, Israel. Designated Inventor: Peretz KORESH. House 1 Filed on: September 28, 1984 67969Λ / 84 SUMMARY A coupling device for water pipes comprises a first and second element, each with proximal and distal ends and a flow path between them. The distal ends of the two elements are friction-fitted into two separate pipes to be coupled. The proximal end of the second element is shaped to accommodate the proximal element of the first element. A housing that slides relative to the proximal end of the second element is positioned above it. The proximal ends of the two elements and the housing are shaped so that when the housing is in one position, the first element can be inserted into and pushed out of the second. However, when the housing is in a second position, the first element, previously inserted into the second, cannot be separated from the second. # * # # * dÀCSSÀGGf ' GASEHA & PERANI '3 THERE IS. NP / m The present invention relates generally to irrigation devices and more particularly to an arrangement for rapidly coupling and uncoupling a water line to a sprinkler, dripper, or the like. The use of sprinklers and drippers for irrigation purposes is well known. While sprinklers are used to spray water above the soil on agricultural crops, shrubs, and the like, drippers are used to drip controlled amounts of water into or near specific locations on the soil. Typically, flexible water hoses are used to supply water to each sprinkler from a "main water pipe or a branch of that pipe. Drippers are either directly coupled to the main pipe (or to a branch of it), or are supplied with water through a coupling pipe from the main pipe, just like sprinklers. There are situations where it is necessary to disconnect a sprinkler (or dripper) from the main line and its coupling line, for repairs or the like. Clearly, if the sprinkler were simply removed without closing the end of the coupling line to which the sprinkler is usually attached, due to the water pressure in the main line, the water would flow out. JACOBACCI - CASETTA & PERANI 2. .would extend out of the open end of the coupling line. There is therefore a need for an arrangement for quickly coupling and uncoupling a sprinkler or the like from the coupling line. Similarly, there is a need to couple or uncouple the coupling line from the main line. An arrangement that meets these needs is provided by the present invention. The novel device of the present invention may be thought of as a device for releasably coupling a first and a second conduit to provide a fluid flow path therebetween, each having an opening through which the fluid is susceptible to flow, the device comprising: a first member having a distal end frictionally matable to one end of said first conduit and an opposite proximal end, with an internal opening passing therebetween, whereby a fluid flow path is provided from the proximal end of said first member through the internal opening thereof to the opening in the second conduit; a second member having a distal end and an opposing proximal end with an internal opening extending therebetween, said second member including coupling means adjacent to its distal end to facilitate frictional fit of the UCGoÀGCl - CASETTA & PERANI 3. said distal end with said second conduit for providing a flow path between the openings thereof, said second member being configured so as to facilitate insertion of a preselected portion of said first member from the proximal end thereof into said second member through the proximal end of the second member; and a housing around a portion of said second member extending from the proximal end thereof, said housing being slidable around said second member between a first position wherein said first member is freely insertable into said second member to provide a flow path between the openings of the two members; and a second position wherein said first member is locked into said second member to prevent withdrawal of the former from the latter. As will be indicated below, the distal end of the second element is frictionally coupled to the worm conduit of the two conduits. Preferably, the invention further includes a third element which is similar to the first except that it does not have a through opening. After the connection between the two conduits is separated, thus unpluggably separating the two elements, the third element is inserted into the second in place of the first, thereby closing the . JACOBACCI - CASETTA ά PERANI $. pe effectively close the opening at the proximal end of the second element to prevent water from gushing out of it. The novel features of the invention are described in detail in the appended claims. The invention will be better understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side view useful for explaining the context of the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the two basic parts of the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the parts with one in the fit-together condition; Figure 4 is a front view of the housing 50, which forms part of the invention; Figures 5a and 5b are front views of the housing in its two possible positions; and Figure 6 is a side view of an auxiliary part. ta TÌACeSAGCi - HOUSE 4 PERANI Reference is now made to figure 1 in relation to which the general context of the invention will now be described. Briefly, the number 10 in it represents a sprinkler, embedded in the ground 12 and to which it is assumed that the water coming from a main water pipe 14 (or a branch 5. small diameter. The line 15 is connected to each of the sprayers 10 and to the main line 14 by means of the new device, generally indicated by 20. The device 20 for connecting the lines and 15 will be described first. Basically, the device 20, illustrated in the cross-sectional view in Figure 2, consists of two basic parts, designated 25 and 35. Part 25, hereinafter also referred to as sleeve 25 or simply the sleeve, is advantageously a short hollow tube or pipe with a through hole 26 of diameter designated DI. The sleeve has essentially a uniform outside diameter (OD), designated D2, except for a peripheral flange that extends outward substantially midway between the ends 27 and 28 of the stopcock. Also provided on the stopcock is a pair of conically shaped projections 30 and 31 near the ends 27 and 38, respectively. 29. For explanatory purposes, it is assumed that the diameter of the base of the projections is D3. One end of the coupling conduit 15, which is assumed to be made of flexible plastic, is slid or forced over the end 27 of the sleeve and the boss 31, with the latter serving to prevent the conduit from disengaging from the sleeve. As for the other end 29 of the sleeve JÀGQBASCi - 4-PEAR TREES HOUSE 6. with its adjacent projection 30, its function is to be inserted into the other part 25 of the complexes to be disengageably locked therein, as will be explained shortly. The end 29 of the stopcock 25 can be thought of as an insertable end. Part 35 of the device serves two functions. One is to be attached to the main pipe 14 and the other is to be releasably coupled to and decoupled from part 25. Part 35 essentially has the form of a hollow cylindrical pipe 36 with a variable outside diameter (OD), with a through opening 37 with a variable inside diameter (ID). The two ends of the ' to q parts 35 are indicated by 38 and 39. The diameter of the opening 37 starting from the end 38 is not less than D3, i.e. the base diameter of the projection 30 on the sleeve 25. It has this diameter up to a section 40 of the tapered wall of the opening where its diameter decreases from D3 to D2. The conical angle of the section 40 of the wall is substantially equal to that of the projection 30. From here onwards the diameter of the opening decreases with a small tapering angle, for example 3° so that at the end 39 the diameter of the opening is less than D2. The portions of part 35 with the opening 37 of diameters D3 and D2 are indicated by 41 and 42 respectively. As illustrated in figure 3, the insertable end of the sleeve THE JACOBACCIS - HOUSE <4 PERANl 7. from end 23 to projection 30 can extend into opening 37 in portion 42. Both parts are assumed to be made of plastic. Accordingly, by inserting the sleeve through portion 41 into the tapered opening 37 of portion 42, the sleeve is compressed at that point to form a watertight fit and thus prevent water leakage. The remaining portion of the sleeve, up to flange 28, can extend into portion 41 with opening 37 of the largest diameter D3. The axial dimension of portion 41 is such that, when flange 28 of sleeve 25 abuts end 38, projection 30 abuts tapered wall 40 and the remaining portion of sleeve 25 up to end 29 is in the tapered opening 37 in portion 42. As illustrated in Figure 2, a ridge 44 is formed on the outside of the portion 42 near the end 39. Its function is to prevent this end of the tubing from being forced out of the main conduit 14, which is assumed to be a rubber tubing, once the end 39 has been forced into the conduit 14. Since the portion 41 of part 35 is intended to receive within it the insertable end of the sleeve 25, it may be thought of as the portion or segment of part 35 which receives the sleeve. As for the portion 42 JÀCCBAGCL· PERANt HOUSE 8. of part 35 and particularly the area near its end 39, it serves to apply part 35 to the pipe or hose 14. Therefore it can be thought of as the application portion of the conduit. From the above it should be understood that by inserting the sleeve 25 from the end 29 up to the flange at part 35, a flow path is created for the water from the conduit 14 and the through openings 37 and 26 into the coupling conduit 15 to supply the sprayer. 10. It is clear, however, that means must be provided to retain the two parts 25 and 35 together once the first has been inserted into the second. For this purpose, two opposite inwardly directed grooves 45 and 46 are formed in the portion 45 from its periphery to the opening 37 therethrough, and a housing 50 is provided, illustrated in the front view in FIG. 4. The thickness of the housing 50 is substantially equal to the axial length of the portion 41 of the part 35, which is received in the housing and which is capable of assuming either of two positions within it. Basically the housing 50 has a front opening 52 with the shape of the external profile of figure 8. Each half of the opening is advantageously a circle of diameter equal to the outside diameter (OD) of the portion JAC5BAG& - 4 PEAR TREES HOUSE 9. Starting from the larger opposite faces 41 of the housing portion 50 are two spaced apart teeth 53 and 54 extending inward. The spaced apart faces 53a and 54a of these teeth, as viewed through the upper half of the aperture 52, are essentially parallel and are spaced a distance D4, while within the lower half of the aperture 52 they curve inward, forming circular arcs of diameter D5, D4 and D5 being chosen so that D2 D4 < D3 and D5 > D3. The two teeth advantageously extend through the grooves 45 in the portion 41. When the housing 50 is positioned around the » * portion 41 so that the second is in the lower part of the housing, as illustrated in FIG. 5a, the curved portions of the teeth are in the grooves and therefore they do not extend into the opening 38 in portion 41. Since the opening 38 in portion 41 has a diameter not less than D3 the end 29 of the sleeve up to the flange 28 can be inserted into the part 35. Once inserted, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the housing is slid around portion 41 within it so that the second is in the upper part of the housing, as illustrated in FIG. 5b. In this position the straight faces of the teeth 53 and 54 are in the grooves 55 of portion 41. Since the faces of the teeth are spaced a JACOBACCI - LITTLE HOUSE tt PERANt 10. distance D4, which is less than D3, the latter being the diameter of the base of the boss 30, the sleeve cannot be pushed out of the housing. It should therefore be understood that portions 25 and 35 are coupled together by inserting sleeve 25 into portion 35 when the housing is in the position shown in Figure 5a and then sliding the housing to the position around portion 41 shown in Figure 5b, thus locking the sleeve in part 35. To unlock, the reverse procedure is followed. That is, the housing is slid from the position shown in Figure 5b to that shown in Figure 5a and the stopcock is pulled out. The housing 50, as well as the other parts 25 and 35, are made of molded plastic with sufficient flexibility to retain the housing 50 around part 35 in both positions. In Figure 1, it is assumed that water flows from the line 14 through the assembly 20 into the coupling line 15. This line is on the upstream side. Likewise, the distal end of the line 15 in the sprayer 10 is on the upstream side. In accordance with the present invention, the part 35 with the head 50 around it is connected to the line on the upstream side, i.e., the upstream line. As long as the sleeve 25 is locked in the part 35, a water flow path is created. 11. tlàCCBACGì - CASETTA è | PERANI continuous by means of the new provision 20. It is clear that if the downstream pipe must be disconnected from the upstream pipe, the sleeve 25 is removed from part 35 as explained previously. If water were to continue to flow in the upstream conduit, i.e., conduit 14, after conduit 15 had been uncoupled from it, the water would flow out through the open end 38 of portion 35, unless means were provided to prevent such flow out. Such means are provided by means of an auxiliary member, illustrated in the side view of FIG. 6. Basically the auxiliary member is similar to the sleeve 25 and is „ ? ; f denoted by 25x. As will become apparent below, element 25x serves as a replacement sleeve and will be referred to as such. All features of it that are similar to those of sleeve 25 will be denoted by the same numbers, followed by the letter x. The replacement sleeve 25x is essentially shaped like a cylinder of diameter D2 with a boss 30x with a base diameter D3, just like the boss 30 near the end 29x. It also has an outer flange 28x like the flange 28. The replacement sleeve 25 from the flange 28x to the insertable end 29x is shaped just like the regular sleeve 25. Therefore it can be inserted into the part 35 and can be locked into it in place of the 12. JACÙBACSi-CASOTA 4 PERANt regular sleeve 25. However, unlike sleeve 25, replacement sleeve 25x does not have a through opening 26. It is effectively a solid cylinder. Therefore, when it is inserted into part 35 and locked therein, with end 29x fitting watertight into tapered opening 37 of part 35, it effectively closes opening 37 from its downstream side and thereby prevents water from gushing out therefrom. To facilitate the insertion of the replacement sleeve 25x in part 35 or extraction therefrom, the replacement sleeve 25x extends beyond the flange 28x in a direction away from the end 29. However, instead of the ridge 31 of the regular sleeve 25 near the end 27, the replacement sleeve 25x terminates with an enlarged solid member 60, which can be easily grasped by a person to use the replacement sleeve. In FIG. 6, the end member 60 is illustrated as a notched ring. This shape of the member 60 allows the replacement sleeve 25x to be conveniently applied around the coupling tubing 15 adjacent to each assembly 20 when the replacement sleeve is not in use. While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is understood that to JÀCSBACCi - HOUSE 4 PERANl 13. that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and accordingly the claims are intended to be construed as including such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1. - A device for releasably coupling first and second conduits to provide a fluid flow path therebetween, each having an opening through which fluid is capable of flowing, the device comprising: a first member having a distal end that can be frictionally coupled to one end of said first conduit and an opposing proximal end, with an opening of material passing therebetween, whereby a fluid flow path is provided from the proximal end of said first member through the internal opening thereof to the opening in the first conduit;a second member having a distal end and an opposing proximal end with an internal opening extending therebetween, said second member including coupling means adjacent the distal end thereof to facilitate frictional coupling of said distal end with said second conduit to provide a flow path between the openings thereof; said second member being configured to facilitate insertion of a preselected portion of said first member from the proximal end thereof into said second member through the proximal end of the second;and a housing around a portion of said second member extending from the proximal end thereof, said housing being slidable around said second member between a first position wherein said first member is freely insertable into said second member to form a flow path between the openings of the two members, and a second position wherein said first member is locked into said second member to prevent withdrawal of the former from the latter.; 2. - A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes fastening means for frictionally engaging the second member when the housing is in said second position to retain said portion of the first member in said second member.

3. - A device as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein at least the proximal end of said first member is cylindrical in shape with a definable outer diameter of D2 and further includes a conically shaped projection JACCBACCi - CASETTA & PERANt 15. with a base diameter D3, where D3 D2, and the opening in said second member from the proximal end thereof is cylindrical with diameter D4 for a selected axial length tapering to a diameter D2, to facilitate insertion of the proximal end of said first member including the projection thereof into the opening of said second member, said housing including means for extension into the opening of said second member when the housing is in said second position to reduce its effective diameter below D3 and thereby to prevent removal of the first member from the second.

4. - A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second member, in the portion thereof where the aperture thereof has a diameter D3, defines a pair of spaced apart grooves extending into said aperture, and said housing includes a pair of spaced apart teeth extending inwardly, said teeth extending into said grooves and having sides facing each other which are shaped such that when said housing is in the said first position about said second member the teeth do not extend into the aperture of D3, to permit the first member to extend into said second member, and when said housing is in the said second JACOBACCL CASETTA & PERANl 1G. position the teeth protrude into the first aperture thereby reducing the diameter of the aperture thereof to less than 113 and thereby preventing the extraction of the first member from the second member.

5. - A device as recited in claim 3 or 4, wherein the opening in said second member beyond the point where it tapers from a diameter D3 to D2 is further tapered at a preselected angle of taper toward the distal end of said second member, such that at that point the diameter of the opening is less than D2.

6. - Device as described in any preceding claim, wherein at least said first element is made of plastic, with a portion from the proximal end thereof to said projection insertable into the opening in said second element where the diameter tapers from D2, with the projection of said first element abutting against the tapered wall in the opening of said second element. JÀCQSÀGCi - CASETTA & PERANI 17. Application No. 67969 A / 84 «lei 28 September 1984 Fig.1 By order of DAR MARTIHIM Μ<« ». A / M «Λ β» Mltwfìr· 15*4 42' '1 \I \ 30 \ > ^35 y% 4 39 37 F ig . 3 F«r InoarlM <1 MM kAJtTXMtK Question No. 67969 A / 84 of 28 September 1984 On behalf of BAH MAMTIRIM f