Quick connect / disconnect connection unit for fluidic lines

Abstract

A connection unit comprising at least a first and a second connector (2, 3) connectable to respective circuit branches of a fluidic line and provided with respective first sealing elements (20, 80) configured to assume a closed position wherein they block flow through the respective connector (2, 3) and an open position wherein they allow flow through the respective connector (2, 3), respective second sealing elements (11, 90) adapted to cooperate with each other to establish a fluidic connection between said connectors (2, 3), a pre-coupling device (38, 84) configured to define a mechanical pre-coupling condition of said connectors (2, 3) in which the respective first sealing elements (20, 80) are held in the closed position, and a locking device (63) configured to define a connection condition of the connectors (2, 3) wherein the first sealing elements (20, 80) are in the open position and the respective second sealing elements (11, 90) are sealingly coupled together, the unit comprises a control element (47) movable between a first rest position and a second position and a snap-action drive mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) comprising elastic means (95) configured to accumulate elastic energy during at least a first portion of the stroke of the control element (47) between the first and second positions, the snap-action drive mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) being activatable at least indirectly by the control element (47) at the end of its stroke to bring the connectors (2, 3) from the connection position to the pre-coupling position under the thrust of said elastic means (95).

Description

[0001] QUICK CONNECT / DISCONNECT CONNECTION UNIT FOR FEUIDIC EINES

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102024000002449 filed on February 6, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Technical Sector of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a quick connect / disconnect connection unit for fluidic lines.

[0006] The present invention has an advantageous, although not exclusive, application in the aerospace sector, and in particular in the connection of fluidic lines in space stations, which will be referred to below without losing generality.

[0007] The present invention may also be applied in various non-space sectors, such as the connection of fluidic lines in terrestrial installations, aircraft or ships, whenever the problem of connecting circuit branches under pressure between them arises.

[0008] Background of the Invention

[0009] The connection between two branches of a fluidic line is normally made by means of a connection unit formed by a male connector and a female connector that can be coupled together.

[0010] In space missions, for example in the missions that led to the International Space Station being realized, the problem of making the fluidic connection between two circuit branches, at least one of which is pressurised before connection, frequently arises.

[0011] For this purpose, connection units are used whose male and female connectors are capable of constituting a sealing termination of the respective circuit branch. The male connector and female connector are internally provided with movable sealing elements adapted to provide a static seal when the connectors are disconnected, and to interact with each other when they are connected to provide a fluidic continuity between the lines.

[0012] Making a seal inside a female connector by means of a movable sealing element that can retract when coupling with the male connector is relatively simple, whereas making a movable sealing element inside a male connector is generally more complex and requires expensive technical solutions and high precision machining.

[0013] In a known solution, the coupling between the male connector and the female connector is made by means of a ferrule coaxial to the male connector and which can be coupled to the female connector by means of a threaded connection requiring several turns of the ferrule for connection. This entails greater difficulty in making the connection through a robotic arm, as it increases the volume swept by the robotic arm during actuation and therefore unusable (“stay-out volume”).

[0014] WO 2022 / 003648 Al shows a connection unit comprising a first and a second female connector adapted to be connected to respective circuit branches of a fluidic line and a double-male coupling element for coupling the connectors together and establishing a fluidic connection between the circuit branches. The female connectors are provided with normally closed sealing groups to define a sealing termination of said circuit branches when the connectors are fluidically disconnected from each other. The double-male connector is provided with a pair of shanks that can be coupled to the respective female connectors and with a control ferrule rotatable between a first position where the coupling element can be coupled to the connectors in a mechanical pre-coupling condition and a second position where the shanks of the double-male connector engage the respective female connectors and establish a fluidic connection therebetween.

[0015] A problem connected with the aforesaid known solution consists in the fact that the transition between the fluidic connection position and the pre-coupling position involves the passage from a condition of compression of the gaskets of the sealing assemblies between the respective seats and the respective sealing surfaces to a condition in which the gaskets are unloaded and move away from the respective sealing surfaces.

[0016] This transition results in inevitable spillages of fluid whose extent is not controllable as it depends on various factors, including the speed of execution of the manoeuvre. In the event that the manoeuvre is carried out by manually rotating the control ferrule, the greater or lesser rotation speed of the aforesaid ferrule results in different transients of the sealing assemblies, and consequent different spillages.

[0017] US2023 / 003324A1 describes a connection unit comprising two identical connectors and each provided with a male terminal and with a female terminal adapted to couple with respective female and male terminals of the other connector. The terminals comprise sealing elements adapted to block flow when the connectors are disconnected or in a mechanical pre-coupling condition and to allow flow when the connectors are in a connection condition. The connectors are provided with a snap-action mechanism adapted to bring the connectors from the connection position to the pre-coupling position and operable by manual pressure of a control element. Ob ject and Summary of the Invention

[0018] The present invention therefore aims to provide a connection unit that solves the aforesaid problems.

[0019] According to the present invention, a connection unit as claimed in the appended claims is realized.

[0020] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described below, by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connection unit according to the invention, in a first operating position;

[0023] Figure 2 is a top plan view of the connection unit of Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 3 is a section according to line III-III of Figure 2;

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connection unit of Figure 1, partially sectioned along the section plane of Figure 3;

[0026] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a connection unit according to the invention, in a second operating position;

[0027] Figure 6 is a top plan view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 5;

[0028] Figure 7 is a section according to line VII- VII of Figure 6;

[0029] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 5, sectioned along the section plane of Figure 7;

[0030] Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 5, with parts gradually removed for the sake of clarity;

[0031] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a connection unit according to the invention, in a third operating position;

[0032] Figure 12 is a top plan view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 11;

[0033] Figure 13 is a section according to line XIII-XIII of Figure 12;

[0034] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 11, sectioned along the section plane of Figure 13;

[0035] Figures 15 and 16 are perspective views of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 11, with parts gradually removed for the sake of clarity;

[0036] Figure 17 is a perspective view of a connection unit according to the invention, in a fourth operating position; Figure 18 is a top plan view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 17;

[0037] Figure 19 is a section according to line XIX-XIX of Figure 18;

[0038] Figure 20 is a perspective view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 17, partially sectioned along the section plane of Figure 19;

[0039] Figures 21, 22 are perspective views of the connection unit, with parts gradually removed for the sake of clarity, in a transient position immediately preceding the position of Figure 17;

[0040] Figures 23, 24 are perspective views of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 17;

[0041] Figure 25 is a perspective view of a connection unit according to the invention, in a fifth operating position;

[0042] Figure 26 is a top plan view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 25;

[0043] Figure 27 is a section according to line XXVII-XXVII of Figure 26;

[0044] Figure 28 is a perspective view of the connection unit in the operating position of Figure 25, partially sectioned along the section plane of Figure 27, and with an enlarged detail; and

[0045] Figure 29 is an axial section of a connection unit according to a different embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0047] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures to allow a skilled person to make and use it. Various modifications of the described embodiment will be immediately clear to the skilled person and the general principles disclosed can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the protection scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached drawings. Therefore, the present invention shall not be considered limited to the embodiment described and shown, but it must be granted the widest protection scope in accordance with the features disclosed and claimed.

[0048] With reference to Figures 1 to 4, 1 denotes as a whole a connection unit for fluidic lines realized according to the invention.

[0049] The unit 1, of axis A, essentially comprises a first connector 2, a second connector 3 and, optionally, a third connector 4 (shown only in Figures 1 and 2). In the embodiment described, the connectors 2 and 4 are female connectors adapted to be connected to respective circuit branches LI, L2 (partially and schematically shown in Figure 2), and the connector 3 is a double-male connector adapted to couple with the female connectors 2, 4 to connect the circuit branches LI, L2 together. In the example described, the connector 2 can be attached to a bulkhead, and thus be part of a fixed system comprising the circuit branch LI, while the circuit branch L2 can be a flexible hose provided at its own end of the connector 4.

[0050] It should be highlighted as of now, however, that the invention also comprises the case in which the connection unit consists of only two connectors, respectively male and female, in which the male connector is adapted to be connected directly to a respective circuit branch of a fluidic line.

[0051] The connector 4 is identical to the connector 2, and is shown only in Figures 1 and 2 for simplicity of representation.

[0052] The following description, referred to the connector 2, therefore also applies to the connector 4; similarly, what has been described for the coupling between the connector 2 and the connector 3 also applies for the coupling between the connector 4 and the connector 3.

[0053] The connector 2 (visible in greater detail in Figure 3) comprises an A-axis tubular body 5 having an externally threaded cylindrical first end 6 and a flared conical second end 7 defining an end outer annular shoulder 8.

[0054] The tubular body 5 has an axial cavity 9 formed by a cylindrical portion 10 inside the first end 6, a conical portion 11 inside the second end 7 and an intermediate portion 12 delimited by an annular wall with a divergent-convergent section proceeding from the cylindrical portion 10 to the conical portion 11. The intermediate portion 12 defines a convergent conical sealing surface 13, adjacent to the conical portion 11.

[0055] The connector 2 further comprises a nipple 14 comprising an internally threaded cup-shaped body 15 screwed onto the cylindrical end 6 of the tubular body 5, and a hollow end shank 16 adapted to be connected to the relative circuit branch LI, in a known and not shown manner, and extending cantilevered from an inner annular shoulder 17 of the cup- shaped body 14.

[0056] The tubular body 5 of the connector 2 has (Figures 3 and 4), in its own axially intermediate zone, a pair of outer radial projections 18 that are diametrically opposite to each other, the function of which will be clarified below.

[0057] The connector 2 further comprises an A-axis shutter 20, movable axially within the cavity 9 of the tubular body 5. The shutter 20 comprises a substantially cylindrical guide portion 21 slidable within the cylindrical portion 10 of the cavity 9 and a sealing portion 22 of substantially ogival shape and provided with a ring-shaped sealing gasket 23 at its own convergent end portion 24. The shutter 20 is subjected to the axial thrust of a spring 25 housed in an annular seat 19 of the guide portion 21 and pre-compressed between the shutter 20 and the annular shoulder 17, so as to hold the sealing portion 22 in contact with the sealing surface 13 of the tubular body 5.

[0058] The guide portion 21 of the shutter 20 has a substantially cylindrical axial cavity 26, from which a plurality of shaped ducts 27 extend, for example three, which diverge from said cavity 26 and open into an intermediate zone of the sealing portion 22.

[0059] A cup-shaped element 31 delimiting an inner chamber 30 of the shutter 20 is screwed inside the sealing portion 22 of the shutter 20. A piston 29 is slidably mounted inside the inner chamber of the shutter and defines with it a compensation device 28.

[0060] The chamber 30 communicates with the cavity 26 through an axial duct 32 of the shutter 20, in which a hollow stem 33 of the piston 29 is slidably mounted, and a plurality of radial holes 34 of the piston itself.

[0061] The piston 29 is adapted to slide axially sealingly in the chamber 30 under the thrust of the pressure of the circuit branch LI associated with the connector 2 and against the action of a spring 35 interposed axially between the piston 29 and a head wall 36 of the cup-shaped element 31, so as to create a variable compensation volume 37 inside the shutter 20.

[0062] The head wall 36 axially emerges from the sealing portion 22 of the shutter 20 and has a frustoconical tapered shape.

[0063] The connector 2 further comprises a pair of engagement lugs 38 hinged to the tubular body 5 in proximity to the conical portion 11 and movable between an extended position (Figures 3 and 4) in which they protrude radially from the outer profile of the tubular body 5 and a retracted position (Figures 25, 26). Each locking lug 38 is loaded toward the extended position by a spring 39.

[0064] The connector 2 finally comprises a first and a second dust barrier member 40, 41 arranged around the tubular body 5 and telescopically coupled together.

[0065] The first dust barrier member 40, substantially cup-shaped, has a centrally perforated base flange 42, sealingly fitted on the tubular body 5 and clamped between the nipple 15 and an intermediate shoulder 43 of the tubular body 5, and a substantially cylindrical outer wall 44 extending axially cantilevered from the base flange 42 around the intermediate portion 12 of the tubular body 5.

[0066] The second dust barrier member 41 is substantially cylindrical and is sealingly slidable within the outer wall 44 of the first dust barrier member 40 between a retracted position and an extended position, towards which it is loaded by a plurality of axial springs 45. The second dust barrier member 41 has an internally conical free end 46.

[0067] The second connector 3 essentially comprises an outer control handgrip 47, a substantially tubular intermediate mechanism body 50 and an inner core 51, mounted coaxially to each other with relative freedom of rotation around the axis A.

[0068] The handgrip 47 consists of two sleeves 47a, 47b angularly coupled to each other and telescopically slidable with respect to each other. The sleeves 47a and 47b are normally coupled in an axially rigid manner by means of a safety ferrule 52, as will be better clarified below.

[0069] The sleeves 47a, 47b have, at their opposite ends 53, respective conical front sealing surfaces 60.

[0070] Respective collars 54 are internally attached inside the ends 53 of the sleeves 47a, 47b. Each collar 54 has an annular portion 55 housed inside the respective end 53 and integrally locked therein by means of a plurality of radial pins 58, and a tubular portion 56, of smaller diameter, which emerges axially cantilevered from the respective sleeve 47a, 47b. Each collar 54 further has at least one control appendage 57 (Figures 9, 15 and 21), and preferably two diametrically opposite appendages 57, extending axially from the annular portion 55 on the opposite side of the tubular portion 56, the purpose of which will be clarified below.

[0071] The mechanism body 50 is in turn constituted, for purely constructive and mounting reasons, by two tubular parts 50a, 50b provided with respective end flanges 59 arranged axially in contact and screwed together (in a manner not shown); the mechanism body 50 therefore behaves as a single rigid body.

[0072] The mechanism body 50, more clearly visible in Figure 16, has on each own axial end a pair of diametrically opposite axial recesses 61 (Figure 1), frontally open, which are adapted to be engaged by the projections 18 of the tubular bodies 5 of the connectors 2, 3 in a pre-coupling position, as better described below.

[0073] Each of the parts 50a, 50b of the mechanism body 50 comprises two inner helical guide grooves 62 for the respective projections 18 of the connectors 2 and, respectively, 4; each helical groove 62 originates from a respective recess 61 (see Figures 4 and 16), to allow the axial introduction of the projections 18.

[0074] Each of the parts 50a, 50b of the mechanism body 50 also carries at least one locking mechanism 63 (Figures 10, 16, 22) configured to lock the connector 2 (or, respectively, 4) with respect to the connector 3 in a coupling position, and a safety mechanism 64 (see also Figures 25, 26) adapted to allow the decoupling of the connector 2 (or, respectively, 4) from the connector 3 only following an enabling manoeuvre, as better described below.

[0075] Preferably, according to the embodiment of the invention shown by way of example, each of the parts 50a, 50b comprises two locking mechanisms 63 diametrically opposite to each other and two safety mechanisms 64 diametrically opposite to each other.

[0076] As shown in Figures 10, 16 and 22, the locking devices 63 each comprise a catch

[0077] 65 and a detent 66 hinged to the mechanism body 50 around respective axes B, C orthogonal to the axis A. The catch 65 has on one side a seat 67 adapted to be engaged by a respective projection 18 of the connector 2 or 4, and on an opposite side an appendage 68 adapted to cooperate with the detent 66.

[0078] The detent 66 is pushed towards the catch 65 by a spring not shown and has, on one side facing the catch 65, a cam profile 69 configured to cooperate through form coupling with the appendage 68 in a first locking position (Figures 10, 16) and in a second unlocking position (Figure 22).

[0079] The detent 66 also has a peg 70 extending radially outwards and adapted to be operated by a respective appendage 57 of the respective collar 54 to bring the detent

[0080] 66 from the locking position to the unlocking position.

[0081] In the locking position, the seat 67 of the catch 65 is arranged transversely superimposed with respect to an end of the respective helical groove 62 of the mechanism body 50 opposite the respective recess 61; the respective projection 18 is therefore locked in the groove itself. In the unlocking position (Figure 22), the catch 65 leaves the projection 18 free to exit from the seat 67 along the groove 62.

[0082] Each safety mechanism 64 comprises a pad 74 slidable along an axial guide 75 of the mechanism body 50 (Figures 16, 22) and pushed by a spring 76 towards an axial end of the mechanism body 50.

[0083] From a radially outer face of the pad 74 a peg 77 extends (Figures 16, 22) which is engaged in an inner circumferential seat 78 of a respective collar 54 (Figures 18, 19), having an angular width of about 90°. Each pad 74 also internally supports a radially inner roller 79 rotatable around a tangential axis, and adapted to interact with a respective locking lug 38 of the respective connector 2 or 4, as will be described below.

[0084] The inner core 51 of the connector 3, made in several parts for constructive reasons but forming as a whole a monolithic unit described herein as a whole under the functional profile, comprises an outer tube 80 and an inner tubular element 81 coaxial with each other (Figure 7). A flange assembly 82 centrally supports the outer tube 80 with respect to the mechanism body 50 and the inner tubular element 81 with respect to the outer tube 80; the outer tube 80 and the inner tubular element 81 are therefore each defined by a pair of tubular portions 80a, 80b and, respectively, 81a, 81b extending from axially opposite parts of the flange assembly 82. The tubular portions 80a and 81a radially delimit an annular chamber 83a between them; the tubular portions 80b and 81b radially delimit an annular chamber 83b between them.

[0085] The outer tube 80 is provided for mechanical connection with the connectors 2, 3 and, for this purpose, the tubular portions 80a, 80b are configured to couple with the second ends 7 of the connectors 2, 3 and have windows 84 adapted to receive the engagement lugs 38 of the connectors 2, 3. The engagement lugs 38 define with the respective windows 84 a pre-coupling device between the connectors 2 and 3.

[0086] The inner tubular element 81 comprises two end sealing portions 85, of flared shape, coaxial and integral to the respective tubular portions 81a, 81b and axially delimiting between them a central cylindrical chamber 86 internal to the inner tubular element 81. The central chamber 86 communicates with the respective annular chambers 83a, 83b through respective gaps 87. The sealing portions 85 each have a frustoconical front seat 88 configured to cooperate with the head wall 36 of the cupshaped element 31 of the shutter 20 of the connector 2 and an outer sealing surface 89, of divergent conical shape.

[0087] In the annular chambers 83a, 83b there are housed in an axially slidable manner respective shutters 90, which are movable between an advanced closing position (Figures 3, 19 and 25) in which they cooperate sealingly with the respective sealing surfaces 89 of the sealing portions 85 and close the respective gaps 87, and a retracted or opening position (Figures 7 and 13) in which they move away from the sealing surfaces 89 of the respective sealing portions 85 and uncover the respective gaps 87.

[0088] The shutters 90 are pushed towards the closing position by respective springs 91 that are precompressed between them and the flange assembly 82, so that the connector 3 is normally closed.

[0089] More particularly, the shutters 90 have respective end sealing portions 92 having a flared conical inner sealing surface 93 configured to sealingly cooperate with the sealing surface 89 of the respective sealing portion 85 of the inner tubular member 81 (Figure 3), and an outer tapered conical outer sealing surface 94 configured to sealingly cooperate with the conical portion 11 of the respective connectors 2 (see Figures 3 and 4), as will be better described below. The connector 3 finally comprises a pair of torsion springs 95 coaxial to the respective parts 50a, 50b of the mechanism body 50 and each having the ends attached to the respective flange 59 and to the respective collar 54. The springs 95 are torsionally preloaded so as to hold the collars 54, and consequently the handgrip 47 angularly coupled to them, in a rest position defined by the contact between the pegs 77 of the pads 74 and one end of the respective circumferential seats 78.

[0090] It should be noted that in the previous description, for the sake of simplicity, the sealing gaskets interposed between the various pairs of sealing surfaces described were not mentioned individually. These gaskets are shown only in Figure 7, for the sake of simplicity, where they are indicated indistinctly with the letter S. Each reference to sealing contacts between surfaces therefore comprises the case in which the gasket is not made by direct contact between these surfaces but is made with interposition of one or more sealing seals.

[0091] The operation of the connection unit 1 is described starting from the connection condition shown in Figures 5 to 10, in which the connector 4, completely analogous to the connector 2 as mentioned above, is omitted for the sake of clarity. Everything set out below for the coupling between connectors 2 and 3 is therefore intended to apply identically to the coupling between connectors 3 and 4.

[0092] In the aforesaid connection condition, the connectors 2 and 3 are mechanically and fluidically coupled to each other.

[0093] The mechanical connection is made by the bayonet coupling between the tubular element 5 of the connector 2 and the mechanism body 50 of the connector 3 and, in particular, between the radial projections 18 of the connector 2 and the helical grooves 62 of the connector 3. In the coupling position, the projections 18 occupy the ends of the helical grooves 62 opposite the recesses 61 (better shown in Figures 14 and 21) and are locked in these ends by the catches 65 of the locking mechanisms 63, in turn locked by the detents 66 in the locking position of Figure 16.

[0094] As is clearly visible in Figure 7, the locking lugs 38 of the connector 2 are angularly aligned with, and engage, the windows 84 of the outer tube 80 of the connector 3, preventing decoupling between the connectors 2 and 3.

[0095] In this position, as can be seen from Figures 7 and 8, the connector 2 and the connector 3 are also fluidically coupled to each other, since the contact between the sealing portion 22 of the shutter 20 of the first connector 2 with the sealing portion 85 of the inner tubular element 81 of the second connector 3 retracts the shutter 20 with respect to the surface 13 of the tubular body 5, thus uncovering the outlet openings of the ducts 27 ; in the same way, the contact between the conical portion 11 of the tubular body 5 of the connector 2 and the outer sealing surface 94 of the shutter 90 of the second connector 3 (see Figure 7) holds the latter in the retracted position in which it uncovers the gaps 87.

[0096] Therefore the line LI communicates with the central chamber 86 of the connector 3 through the ducts 27 and the gaps 87. The same considerations apply, as mentioned, to the connector 4 and the line L2.

[0097] It can be observed that in this position the sealing portions 22 of the shutter 20 of the connectors 2 and the sealing portion 85 of the inner tubular element 81 of the second connector 3, by matching together, define overall a tapered shape that minimizes hydraulic resistance (Figures 7, 8).

[0098] In the coupling condition described, the first dust barrier member 40, the second dust barrier member 41 and the sleeves 47a, 47b of the handgrip 47 as a whole define a sealing system 96 adapted to protect the connection unit, and in particular the sealing surfaces of the connectors 2, 3 and (optionally) 4 from the entry of dust (Figure 8).

[0099] In this condition, in fact, the free end 46 of the second dust barrier member 41 cooperates sealingly with the sealing surface 60 of the sleeve 47a of the handgrip 47 under the action of the springs 45.

[0100] The disconnection of the connector 2 (and, respectively, of the connector 4) from the connector 3 takes place by rotating the handgrip 47 clockwise, with reference to Figure 5. In this way, the handgrip 47 drags the collars 54 through the pins 58, against the action of the springs 95, which are therefore loaded torsionally and accumulate elastic energy.

[0101] This occurs over an angular stroke of predetermined amplitude, which in the example shown is 72°, at the end of which the connector 3 is in the position shown in Figures 9 to 15. In this position, in which the connectors 2, 3 (and 4) are still connected both mechanically and fluidically as visible in Figures 11 and 12, the control appendages 57 of the collars 54 come into contact with the respective pegs 70 of the detents 66 (Figure 15).

[0102] By rotating the handgrip 47 by a further angle of predetermined amplitude, in the example shown equal to 18° (for a total of 90° starting from the connection position), and always against the elastic action of the springs 95, the control appendages 57 of the collars 54 push the respective pegs 70 of the detents 76 as indicated with an arrow in Figure 15, causing the rotation of the latter from the locking position of Figure 16 to the unlocking position of Figure 22, and the consequent rotation of the catches 65 towards the unlocking position, upon which the projections 18 are free to disengage from the catches 65, as shown in Figure 22 where the projections 18 are represented in the transient position immediately preceding the exit from the catches 65.

[0103] At this point, the elastic energy accumulated by the springs 95 is released, causing the snap rotation of the mechanism body 50 under the thrust of the springs 95 themselves in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the handgrip 47, positioning itself in the position shown in Figures 23 and 24.

[0104] Due to the engagement between the helical grooves 62 of the mechanism body 50 and of the projections 18, the rotation of the mechanism body 50 corresponds to an axial translation of the projections 18 (which move to the opposite end of the grooves 62 at the recesses 61, Figure 22) and therefore of the tubular body 5 of the connector

[0105] 2, which is axially deviated by the connector 3. This causes the fluidic decoupling between the connector 3 and the connector 2, since in the retracted position of the tubular body 5 the sealing portion 22 of the shutter 20 of the first connector 2 comes into contact with the sealing surface 13 of the tubular body 5 under the thrust of the spring 25; at the same time, the shutter 90 of the connector 3 is pushed towards the closing position by the spring 91 (Figure 19).

[0106] In this configuration, the connectors 2 and 3 are still mechanically connected in a relative pre-coupling position in which the engagement lugs 38 of the connector 2 engage the windows 84 of the outer tube 80 of the connector 3.

[0107] It is important to note that in the pre-coupling position the sealing system 96 continues to isolate the sealing unit from the external environment, preventing the entry of dust. In fact, despite the axial movement of the connector 2 away from the connector

[0108] 3, thanks to the telescopic coupling between the first dust barrier member 40 and the second dust barrier member 41, the latter continues to cooperate sealingly with the sealing surface 60 of the sleeve 47a of the handgrip 47 under the action of the springs 45.

[0109] To mechanically decouple the connector 2 from the connector 3 it is necessary to rotate the safety ferrule 52 of the handgrip 47, bringing it into an angular position in which the sleeves 47a, 47b are axially free from each other.

[0110] In the pre-coupling condition, following rotation of the mechanism body 50, the pads 74 carried by the mechanism body 50 of the connector 3 are now aligned with the engagement lugs 38 (Figure 19).

[0111] By axially moving the sleeve 47a towards the sleeve 74b (or vice versa, in case it is wished to decouple the connector 4 from the connector 3), the pads 74 move axially with it, dragged by the collar 54. The rollers 79 of the pads 74 act on the respective engagement lugs 38 and push them radially inwards, against the action of the springs 39 (see Figure 27 and enlarged detail of Figure 28); the connector 2 can therefore be extracted from the connector 3, returning to the decoupling condition shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0112] The passage from the full disconnection condition of Figures 1 to 4 to the connection condition shown in Figures 5 to 9 takes place in two steps.

[0113] In a first step, the connector 2 is coupled axially to the connector 3 so that the projections 18 of the first one engage the recesses 61 of the second one; in this way, the mechanical pre-coupling is obtained thanks to the engagement of the engagement lugs 38 in the respective windows 84. In this pre-coupling condition, as mentioned above, the sealing system 96 is already operational, the second dust barrier member 41 being in contact with the knob 47a under the thrust of the springs 45.

[0114] It can be observed that the pre-engagement coupling manoeuvre between the connectors 2 and 3 takes place without any elastic resistance from the springs 95, and without any manual action on the handgrip 47.

[0115] In a second step, the two connectors are rotated with respect to each other. In particular, assuming that the connector 2 is a bulkhead connector as described above and therefore fixed, the connector 3 is rotated.

[0116] In this step the projections 18 slide along the respective helical grooves 62 towards the end thereof opposite the respective recesses 61. The helical coupling produces a relative axial approach between the two connectors 2, 3, restoring the fluidic connection as the contact between the sealing portion 22 of the shutter 20 of the first connector 2 with the sealing portion 85 of the inner tubular element 81 of the second connector 3 retracts the shutter 20 with respect to the surface 13 of the tubular body 5, thus uncovering the outlet openings of the ducts 27; in the same way, the contact between the conical portion 11 of the tubular body 5 of the connector 2 and the outer sealing surface 93 of the shutter 88 of the second connector 3 (see Figures 3 and 4) moves the latter into the retracted position in which it uncovers the gaps 87.

[0117] Near the aforesaid end of the helical grooves 62, the projections 18 enter the respective seats 67 of the catches 65, and push the latter from the unlocking position to the locking position, where they are locked by the respective detents 66.

[0118] From an examination of the connection unit described, the advantages that the present invention allows to obtain are evident. The use of an elastic energy accumulation system, such as to cause the snap passage from the position of fluidic connection to the pre-coupling position, allows to control the spillages due to the passage from a compression condition of the gaskets to an unloaded condition of the gaskets, making this transition substantially instantaneous regardless of the speed of actuation of the handgrip 47 by the operator.

[0119] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variants can be made to the connection unit described that do not fall outside the scope of protection of the present invention defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A connection unit comprising at least a first and a second connector (2, 3) connectable to respective circuit branches of a fluidic line and provided with respective first sealing elements (20, 80) configured to assume a closed position wherein they block flow through the respective connector (2, 3) and an open position wherein they allow flow through the respective connector (2, 3), respective second sealing elements (11, 90) configured to cooperate with each other to establish a fluidic connection between said connectors (2, 3), a pre-coupling device (38, 84) configured to define a mechanical pre-coupling condition of said connectors (2, 3) in which the respective first sealing elements (20, 80) are held in the closed position, and a locking device (63) configured to define a connection condition of the connectors (2, 3) wherein the first sealing elements (20, 80) are in the open position and the respective second sealing elements (11, 90) are sealingly coupled together, the unit comprising a snap-action drive mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) comprising elastic means (95) and a control element (47) movable along a stroke between a first rest position and a second activation position, the snap-action drive mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) being activatable at least indirectly by the control element (47) to bring the connectors (2, 3) from the connection position to the pre-coupling position under the thrust of said elastic means (95), characterized in that the elastic means (95) are configured to accumulate elastic energy during at least a first portion of the stroke of the control element (47) and release said energy at the end of the stroke of the control element (47) to bring the connectors (2, 3) from the connection position to the pre-coupling position.

2. A connection unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device (63) cooperates with the snap-action mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) and is at least indirectly deactivatable by the control element (47) at the end of its stroke to activate the snap action mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18).

3. A connection unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control element (47) is carried by the second connector (3) and is rotatable about an axis (A) of the second connector (3).

4. A connection unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control element (47) comprises a handgrip (47) carried by the second connector (3) and rotatable about the axis (A).

5. A connection unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second connector (3) comprises at least one collar (54) rotationally coupled to the handgrip (47), the collar(54) being rotatable about the axis of the second connector (3) and provided with a control appendage (57) configured to interact with the locking device (63).

6. A connection unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device (63) comprises a rotatable catch (65) and a detent (66) carried by the second connector (3) and at least one projection (18) carried by the first connector (2), the catch (65) being configured to cooperate with the projection (18) in a locking position, the detent (66) being configured to maintain the catch (65) in the locking position in the connection condition of the connectors (2, 3).

7. A connection unit claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the snapaction mechanism comprises a helical pair (18, 62) comprising at least a first element (18) carried by the first connector (2) and a second element (62) carried by the second connector (3), the helical pair being configured to axially move the first connector(2) away from the second connector (3) as a result of a relative rotation between the first and second elements (18, 62) under the thrust of the elastic means (95).

8. A connection unit as claimed in claim 7 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the first element (18) of the helical pair (18, 62) is the projection (18) of the first connector (2) and the second element of the helical pair is a helical groove (62) of the second connector (3).

9. A connection unit as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the second connector(3) comprises a tubular inner core (51) and a mechanism body (50) externally coaxial to the inner core (51) and rotatable relative thereto about the axis (A) of the second connector (3), the mechanism body (50) defining the second element (62) of the helical pair (18, 62).

10. A connection unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking device (63) is carried by the mechanism body (50).

11. A connection unit as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the handgrip (47) is externally coaxial to the mechanism body (50) and the elastic means comprise at least one coil spring (95) housed radially between the handgrip (47) and the mechanism body (50), and having one end attached to the mechanism body (50) and an opposite end attached to the collar (54).

12. A connection unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pre-coupling device (38, 84) comprises at least one pre-coupling lug (38) carried by one of the connectors (2) and elastically loaded toward a pre-engagement position, and at least one respective seat (84) carried by the other connector (4) and engageable by the at least one lug (38) at the pre-engagement position.

13. Unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pre-coupling lug (38) is carried by the first connector (2) and the seat (84) is a window formed in the inner core (51) of the second connector (3).

14. A connection unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a safety mechanism (64) configured to allow release of the preengagement device (38, 84) in response to a manual actuation of the control element (47).

15. A connection unit as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 14, wherein the manual actuation comprises an axial displacement of at least a portion (47a, 47b) of the handgrip (47).

16. A connection unit as claimed in claim 14 when dependent on claim 13, wherein the safety mechanism (64) comprises an axially sliding pad (74) carried by the mechanism body (50) and axially coupled to the portion (47a, 47b) of the handgrip (47), the pad being configured to cooperate with the pre-coupling lug (38) in response to manual actuation to disengage it from the seat (84).

17. A connection unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a third connector (4) substantially the same as the first connector (1), the first and third connectors (2, 4) being connectable to respective circuit branches (LI, L2) of the fluidic line, the second and third connectors (2, 3) being provided with respective third sealing elements (80, 20) configured to assume a closed position wherein they block flow through the respective connectors (3, 4) and an open position wherein they allow flow through the respective connectors (3, 4), and respective fourth sealing elements (90, 11) configured to cooperate with each other to establish a fluidic connection between the second and third connectors (3, 4), a second precoupling device (38, 84) configured to define a mechanical pre-coupling condition between the second and third connectors (3, 4) wherein the respective third sealing elements (80, 20) are in the closed position, and a second locking device (63) configured to define a connection condition of the second and third connectors (3, 4) wherein the third sealing elements (80, 20) are in the open position and the fourth sealing elements (90, 11) are sealingly coupled together, the unit (1) comprising a second snap-action drive mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) comprising second elastic means (95) configured to accumulate elastic energy during at least a first portion of the travel of the control element (47) between the first and second positions, the second snap-action drive mechanism (95, 50, 62, 18) being activated at least indirectly by the control element (47) at the end of its stroke to bringthe second and third connectors (3, 4) from the connection condition to the precoupling condition under the thrust of said second elastic means (95).

18. A connection unit as claimed in claim 17 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the second connector (3) comprises a first and second collars (54) rigidly connected to respective portions (47a, 47b) of the handgrip (47), the collars (54) being rotatable about the axis of the second connector (3) and provided with respective control appendages (57) configured to interact with the locking devices (63) associated with the first connector (2) and the third connector (4), respectively, the two portions (47a, 47b) of the handgrip (457) being rotationally integral and telescopically coupled together.

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