Quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections

Abstract

A quick-coupling connector (1) for hydraulic connections comprises a male half-coupling (2) removably inserted for a section thereof (P) in a female half-coupling (3), said female half-coupling (3) comprises a collection chamber (7) connected to the outside by means of a drainage channel (1) and oil scraper means (13) intended to scrape the surface of the male half-coupling portion (2) during the leakage from the female half-coupling (3) to scrape the hydraulic oil and determine its accumulation in said collection chamber (7), avoiding the dripping of hydraulic oil from the male halfcoupling (2) and the female half-coupling (3) when disconnected.

Description

[0001] " Quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections"

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention refers to a quick-coupling connector for hydraulic, or more generally fluiddynamic, connections, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] By way of non-limiting example, the present description is made with particular reference to a quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections of the type, for example, used to connect various users to the hydraulic circuit of an agricultural machine such as a tractor.

[0005] It should be noted that the quick-coupling connectors for hydraulic connections of the type referred to above are also called, in abbreviated form, quick couplings.

[0006] Generally, the aforesaid quick-coupling connectors, or quick couplings, are used as fitting components to allow activating or interrupting the fluid communication between two branches or sections of a fluid-dynamic circuit, generally a hydraulic motor side branch and another branch connected to a user actuated by the hydraulic fluid, obviously guaranteeing the tightness even for high fluid pressures. The advantage of these quick-coupling connectors is that the user only has to worry about connecting by snapping on, or disconnecting, two parts of the coupling, without worrying about having to operate the opening or closing of hydraulic fluid shut-off valves associated with each branch of the hydraulic circuit.

[0007] For this purpose, the aforesaid quick-coupling connectors for hydraulic connections are equipped with non-return valves that automatically intervene to:

[0008] - open themselves in order to ensure fluid communication when the two parts of the coupling are coupled together and

[0009] - close themselves instantly when the two parts of the coupling are decoupled from each other.

[0010] This, in addition to ensuring correct automatic operation of the coupling, in particular without having to worry about operating fluid shut-off members, avoids unwanted and inadvertent leaks of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic circuit itself.

[0011] Nevertheless, in consideration of the oily nature of the hydraulic fluid, it should be noted that with each decoupling operation of the two parts of the quickcoupling connector there is a dripping leak of hydraulic fluid, due to the fact that the hydraulic fluid wets the parts of the connectors downstream of the non-return valves.

[0012] This leak, although limited to a few drops of hydraulic fluid, is nevertheless problematic and completely unwanted, as it causes pollution of the soil or other surface in consideration of the polluting nature of the hydraulic fluid itself.

[0013] This problem, although felt even in an enclosed environment such as a workshop, is even more serious for outdoor uses, such as for example the case of an agricultural machine that must be connected to the hydraulic power take-off of a tractor. In fact, the insertions and disconnections of the hydraulic circuit of an agricultural machine take place directly in the field and, it goes without saying, that the repeated leak, even of a few drops, of hydraulic fluid is completely unwanted as it causes pollution of the agricultural lands.

[0014] CN 103 453 255 A discloses an automatic, quickcoupling connector for hydraulic with a protection function, comprising a male connector and a female connector.

[0015] EP 3 742 037 Al discloses a quick-coupling female element suitable to be coupled with a male element for the removable fluidic junction of two conduits.

[0016] In view of the above, it is evident that nowadays the need to have a quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections is strongly felt which, despite its simple and well-functioning structure, so as to be simple and economical to implement, allows to prevent the problem of pollution due to the leak of drops of hydraulic fluid during the usual coupling or decoupling operations, at the same time this quick-coupling connector must be structurally simple.

[0017] The problem underlying the present invention is to devise and make available a quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections, which has structural and functional characteristics such as to meet the aforesaid needs and to avoid the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0018] This problem is solved by a quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections in accordance with claim 1.

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections according to the present invention will result from the following description of a preferred embodiment example thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0020] - figure 1 represents a simplified and only indicative perspective view, in longitudinal section of a quick-coupling connector according to the invention with a male half-coupling and a female half-coupling in disengaged configuration;

[0021] - figure 2 represents a plan view in longitudinal section of the connector of figure 1;

[0022] - figures 3 and 4 represent a plan view in longitudinal section of the connector of figure 2 with some components removed to better show the structure of said male half-coupling and female half-coupling;

[0023] - figure 5 represents a simplified perspective view in longitudinal section of the quick-coupling connector of figure 1 with the male half-coupling and the female half-coupling in a configuration coupled between them;

[0024] - figure 6 represents a plan view in longitudinal section of the connector of figure 5;

[0025] - figures 7 and 8 represent a plan view in longitudinal section of the connector of figure 2 with some components removed to better show the structure of said male half-coupling and female half-coupling;

[0026] - figure 9 represents a simplified perspective view in longitudinal section and exploded view of only the female half-coupling and

[0027] - figure 10 represents a plan view in longitudinal section of only the female half-coupling connector of figure 9. With reference to the attached figures, 1 globally indicates a quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections according to the invention.

[0028] The quick-coupling connector 1 for hydraulic connections comprises a male half-coupling 2 and a female half-coupling 3 intended to pass reversibly from a mutual coupling configuration (fr. Figures 5 and 6), in which they are fluid-tightly coupled, to a disengaged configuration (fr. Figures 1 and 2) in which said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 are disengaged from each other.

[0029] Said male half-coupling 2 extends along a prevalent axial direction X-X and comprises an axial through passage extending between a front end 16 and an opposed rear end 18 of said male half-coupling 2;

[0030] Said female half-coupling 3 extends along a prevalent axial direction X-X and comprises an axial through passage extending between a front end 14 and an opposed rear end 15 of said female half-coupling 3, in said axial passage of said female half-coupling 3 a housing seat 10 being identified for reversibly housing an end section P of said male half-coupling 2 (see figures 2 and 6), said housing seat 10 extending axially into said female half-coupling 3 from said front end 14 and to an axial bottom abutment 6. It should be noted that the aforesaid bottom axial abutment 6 identifies an abutment that limits the maximum allowed insertion of the end section P of said male half-coupling 2 (see figures 2 and 6) into the housing seat 10.

[0031] In said mutual coupling configuration, said end section P of said male half-coupling 2 is inserted into said housing seat 10 of said female half-coupling 3 up to said bottom axial abutment 6 (see figure 6);

[0032] A first axial section L1 (see figure 7) of said housing seat 10 of said female half-coupling 3 starting from, or in proximity of said bottom axial abutment 6 and a corresponding first portion P1 (see figure 7) of said end section P of said male half-coupling 2 have substantially complementary cylindrical profiles which, preferably, but not necessarily, create a substantially precise coupling to each other when said male halfcoupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 are in said mutual coupling configuration.

[0033] The aforesaid first axial section LI of said female half-coupling 3 comprises a first inner radial seat 8 (see figure 8) in which first sealing means 9 (see figures 2 and 3) are housed to ensure a fluid-tight coupling between said first axial section LI of said housing seat 10 of said female half-coupling 3 and said first portion P1 of said end section P of said male half-coupling 2 when said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 are in said mutual coupling configuration (see figures 5 and 6).

[0034] Preferably, said first sealing means 9, preferably an O-ring, housed in said first inner radial seat 8 of said axial section L1 are positioned at a distance from said bottom axial abutment 6 of said housing seat 10 less than 15 mm, preferably at a distance less than 10 mm, more preferably at a distance less than 8 mm.

[0035] Said connector 1 comprises first valve means 4 housed in said axial passage through said male halfcoupling 2 susceptible to passing:

[0036] • from a forward closing configuration, in which they prevent the passage of hydraulic fluid through said axial passage of said male halfcoupling 2 when said male half-coupling 2 and female half-coupling 3 are in said disengaged configuration,

[0037] • to a backward opening configuration in which they allow hydraulic fluid to pass through said axial passage of said male half-coupling 2 when said male half-coupling 2 and said female halfcoupling 3 are in said mutual coupling configuration. Said connector 1 comprises second valve means 5 housed in said axial passage through said female halfcoupling 3 susceptible to passing:

[0038] • from a forward closing configuration, in which they prevent the passage of hydraulic fluid through said axial passage of said female halfcoupling 3 when said male half-coupling 2 and female half-coupling 3 are in said disengaged configuration,

[0039] • to a backward opening configuration in which they allow hydraulic fluid to pass through said axial passage of said female half-coupling 3 when said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 are in said mutual coupling configuration.

[0040] Said first valve means 4 and said second valve means 5 comprise respective movable shutters inserted in said axial passage of said male half-coupling 2 and of said female half-coupling 3 and intended to abut through closure with respective and corresponding shutter seats identified internally to the respective axial passages of said male half-coupling 2 and of said female half-coupling 3. Respective elastic means push said shutters in abutment against the respective shutter seat with a predetermined elastic load. The aforesaid shutters comprise a head, preferably a so-called mushroom head, supported by a stem that guides its axial movement in the respective axial passage.

[0041] When the head of each shutter is abutted against the respective shutter seat, an end portion of said head overhangs the abutment seat by a predetermined distance, so that, when said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 are in said mutual coupling configuration (see Figures 5 and 6), said head end portions interfere with each other causing a retraction of each shutter into the respective axial passage such as to allow the passage of fluid and put said male halfcoupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 in fluid communication with each other.

[0042] Said connector 1 also comprises releasable locking means for releasably retaining said male half-coupling 2 in said mutual coupling configuration with said female half-coupling 3.

[0043] Advantageously, proceeding from said bottom axial abutment 6 towards said front end 14, said housing seat 10, after said first axial section LI, comprises a second axial section L2 and a subsequent third axial section L3, wherein:

[0044] - said second axial section L2 of said housing seat 10 comprises an annular recess 7 which identifies an annular recovery chamber open towards said housing seat 10;

[0045] - said female half-coupling 3 comprises a drainage channel 11 to place said annular recovery chamber identified by said annular recess 7 in fluid communication with the outside;

[0046] - said third axial section L3 of said housing seat 10 comprises an annular seat 12 in which oil scraper means 13 configured to project into said housing seat 10 to act as an oil scraper on the portion of the outer surface of said end section P of said male half-coupling 2 positioned at said oil scraper means 13 are housed and retained.

[0047] In view of this, during the passage from said mutual coupling configuration to said disengaged configuration, the relative movement of said male halfcoupling 2 with respect to said female half-coupling 3 determines an oil scraping action by said oil scraper means 13 on the section of said male half-coupling 2 present in the section L4 (see figure 7) of said housing seat 10 comprised between said oil scraper means 13 and said bottom axial abutment 6, the oil scraped by said oil scraper means 13 being accumulated in said annular recovery chamber identified by said annular recess 7 of said female half-coupling to be evacuated, for example by gravity, to the outside through said drainage channel 11.

[0048] Preferably, the aforesaid annular recess 7 which identifies an annular recovery chamber open towards said housing seat 10 of said female half-coupling 3 extends for an axial section less than or equal to 15 mm, preferably extending for an axial section less than or equal to 10 mm.

[0049] Preferably, the aforesaid annular seat 12 in which the aforesaid oil scraper means 13 are housed and retained is positioned adjacent to or in the vicinity of said recovery chamber identified by said annular recess 7 of said female half-coupling 3.

[0050] Preferably said annular seat 12 in which said oil scraper means 13 are housed and retained is positioned at a distance from said recovery chamber identified by said annular recess 7 at a distance less than 10 mm, more preferably at a distance less than 3 mm, even more preferably at a distance less than or equal to 0.7 mm, for example 0.5 mm.

[0051] Preferably, the aforesaid oil scraper means 13 housed and retained in said annular seat 12 comprise an annular element made of polymeric material.

[0052] Preferably, the aforesaid oil scraper means 13 housed and retained in said annular seat 12 comprise an O-ring gasket.

[0053] Preferably, the aforesaid section L4 of said housing seat 10 comprised between said oil scraper means 13 and said bottom axial abutment 6 has a length of at least 20 mm, more preferably a length of at least 30 mm, in order to perform an effective oil-scraping action by said oil scraper means 13 on the section of said male half-coupling 2 present in the section L4 of said housing seat 10 between said oil scraper means 13 and said bottom axial abutment 6.

[0054] In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the body of said female half-coupling 3 comprises:

[0055] - a first cylindrical sleeve 3a equipped with said front end 14 of the female half-coupling 3 and an opposed distal end 23 and

[0056] - a second cylindrical sleeve 3b equipped with said rear end 15 of the female half-coupling 3 and an opposed distal end 24,

[0057] said distal ends 23, 24 of said first cylindrical sleeve 3a and of said second cylindrical sleeve 3b being joined together fluid-tight with the interposition of a gasket 25, preferably an O-Ring gasket, received in a seat 26 obtained in said first cylindrical sleeve 3 (see fig.

[0058] 8). In accordance with the illustrated embodiment: the aforesaid distal end 23 of said first cylindrical sleeve 3a is a female end,

[0059] - the aforesaid distal end 24 of said second cylindrical sleeve 3b is a male end and

[0060] - the aforesaid male distal end 24 of said second cylindrical sleeve 3b is coaxially engaged in said female distal end 23, preferably by means of a screw-nut coupling between complementary threaded parts.

[0061] Preferably, the outer surface of said first cylindrical sleeve 3a and / or of said second cylindrical sleeve 3b have at least two opposed flat longitudinal sides, more preferably have an axial section having a hexagonal or octagonal profile, to be engaged by a manoeuvring tool, such as a spanner or a wrench, and can be rotated in order to ensure: a correct tightening between the parts and / or a correct angular positioning.

[0062] Preferably, said bottom axial abutment 6 of said housing 10 is formed by said male distal end 24 of said second cylindrical sleeve 3b.

[0063] In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the aforesaid end section P of said male half-coupling 2 comprises a second portion P2 distal from said front end 16 of said male half-coupling 2 which identifies a circular cylindrical centring sleeve 30 which forms a substantially precise coupling with a corresponding circular cylindrical portion L5 of said housing seat 10 starting from, or in the vicinity of, said front end 14 of said female half-coupling 3. In view of this, when said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3 are in said mutual coupling configuration, said second portion P2 of said male half-coupling 2 identifies circular cylindrical centring sleeve 30 of said end section P of said male half-coupling 2 in said housing seat 10 of said female half-coupling 3.

[0064] In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, also the aforesaid first axial section L1 (see figure 7) of the housing seat 10 of the female half-coupling 3 starting from, or in the vicinity of, said bottom axial abutment 6 and a corresponding first portion P1 (see figure 7) of said end section form a substantially precise coupling, so that the aforesaid end section P of said male half-coupling 2 (see figures 2 and 6) has a double centring in the housing seat 10: one at said first portion (Pl) of said end section (P) and the other at said second portion P2 distal from said front end 16 of said male half-coupling 2 which identifies the centring circular cylindrical sleeve 30.

[0065] Preferably, the aforesaid releasable locking means comprise: an annular recess 19 formed in said second portion P2 in said male half-coupling 2;

[0066] - a plurality of locking balls 20 retained in a corresponding plurality of seats 21, positioned circumferentially offset from each other along the same section of said circular cylindrical portion L5 of said female half-coupling 3, so as to be movable:

[0067] • between a radially backward stroke end position, in which said locking balls 20 do not protrude into said housing seat 10, and

[0068] • a forward stroke end position in which said locking balls 20 protrude for a portion thereof from their respective seat 21 into said housing seat 10;

[0069] - a stop element 22 movably supported by said female half-coupling 3 to pass reversibly from:

[0070] • a forward position in which said stop element 22 is superimposed on said plurality of seats 21 to push and hold said locking balls 20 into said forward stroke end position in which they protrude for a portion thereof from said respective seat 21 into said housing seat 10 to • a backward position in which said stop element 22 is spaced from said plurality of seats 21 enabling said locking balls 20 to move to said radially backward stroke end position and

[0071] - elastic means 27 acting on said stop element 22 to push said stop element 22 into said forward position with a predetermined elastic load.

[0072] Preferably, the aforesaid stop element 22 comprises a ring nut coaxially mounted on said circular cylindrical portion L5 of said female half-coupling 3 and axially movable with respect to said circular cylindrical portion L5 of said female half-coupling 3 to pass from said forward position to said backward position, and

[0073] - said female half-coupling 3 comprises axial abutment means to limit the displacement of said ring nut between said forward and said backward position. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, said means for limiting the displacement of said ring nut between said forward position and said backward position comprise:

[0074] - a stop ring 28 applied to said female halfcoupling 3 in the vicinity of said front end 14 and

[0075] - a radial step 29 of said half-coupling 3 further backward from said front end 14 of said female half-coupling 3.

[0076] In the use of the connector 1 according to the invention, starting from a disengaged configuration (see figures 1 and 2), in which the valve means 4 and 5 are closed in abutment against the respective shutter seat ensuring the tightness from the leakage of hydraulic fluid, the end section P of said male half-coupling 2 (see figures 2 and 6) is inserted into the housing seat 10 until the connector 1 is brought into the coupling configuration (see figures 5 and 6). In this configuration:

[0077] - the aforesaid locking means allow to keep the male half-coupling 2 and the female halfcoupling 3 in engagement with each other and - the interference that is created between the end portions of the mushroom heads of the valve means 4 and 5 causes a retraction of these mushroom heads, i.e. of the shutters, from the respective shutter seats, establishing fluid communication between the axial through passages of said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3. Under normal conditions, when said male halfcoupling (2) and said female half-coupling (3) are in said mutual coupling configuration, the locking balls 20 are in the aforesaid forward stroke end position in which they project for a portion thereof into the housing seat 10 until engaging the annular recess 19 formed in the second portion (P2) of the male halfcoupling (2): this ensures not only the retention of the male half-coupling 2 in the housing seat 10 of the female half-coupling 3, but also the axial centring of the male half-coupling 2 in the housing seat 10. In consideration of a small play of the locking balls 21 in the annular recess 19 of the male half-coupling (2), it is evident that the male half-coupling (2) is allowed a very limited axial play in the seat 10, for example of the order of 0.5 mm, and, in any case, the aforesaid bottom axial abutment 6 identified by the male distal end 24 of the aforesaid second cylindrical sleeve 3b identifies the stroke stop that limits the maximum insertion allowed to the end section P of the male half-coupling 2 in the housing seat 10 of the female half-coupling 3.

[0078] When necessary, for example to disconnect an agricultural machine from the hydraulic circuit of the tractor, the aforesaid locking means are released, allowing an operator to extract the male half-coupling 2, specifically the aforesaid end section P, from the female half-coupling 3, interrupting the fluid communication between said male half-coupling 2 and said female half-coupling 3, at the same time, the valve means return to the closing configuration, interrupting the passage of fluid. It should be noted that, during the extraction of the end section P of the male half-coupling 2 from the housing seat 10 of the female half-coupling 3, the oil scraper means 13 carry out an effective scraping action on the end section of the male half-coupling 2, scraping from its surface the oil present therein, which oil falls and accumulate in the annular recovery chamber identified by the annular recess 7, to be evacuated, for example by gravity, through the aforesaid drainage channel 11.

[0079] It should be noted that the drainage channel 11 is connected with an oil recovery tank (not illustrated for simplicity of representation), such as for example the hydraulic fluid tank of a tractor.

[0080] It should be noted that the rear end 15 of the female half-coupling 3 and the rear end 18 of the male half-coupling 2 are tightly connected, for example by screw-nut coupling or otherwise, with hydraulic fluid conduits (not illustrated for simplicity of representation), for example of a tractor and of an agricultural machine, respectively.

[0081] As can be appreciated from what has been described, the quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections according to the invention allows to satisfy the aforesaid need and at the same time to overcome the drawbacks referred to in the introductory part of the present description.

[0082] In fact, the particular structure of the quickcoupling connector for hydraulic connections according to the invention allows to recover the fluid-dynamic oil from the surface of the portion of the end section P of the male half-coupling 2, preventing such oil from running or dripping to the ground.

[0083] Additionally, the presence of a drainage channel allows the collected oil to be conveyed into a collection container.

[0084] A further advantage of the quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections according to the invention lies in the simplicity of the structural solution adopted which ensures its correct operation without requiring expensive maintenance.

[0085] A further advantage of the quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections according to the invention lies in the structural simplicity of the solution adopted, which ensures high reliability thereof without incurring disruptions, breakages of parts or malfunctions.

[0086] Obviously, an expert skilled in the art, for the purpose of satisfying specific, contingent needs, can make numerous modifications and the variants to the quick-coupling connector for hydraulic connections described above, all contained within the scope of protection, as defined by the following claims.

[0087] *** * ***

Claims

CLAIMS1. Quick-coupling connector (1) for hydraulic connections comprising a male half-coupling (2) and a female half-coupling (3) intended to pass reversibly from a mutual coupling configuration, in which they are fluid-tightly coupled, to a disengaged configuration in which said male half-coupling (2) and said female halfcoupling (3) are disengaged from each other, wherein:- said male half-coupling (2) extends along a prevalent axial direction (X-X) and comprises an axial through passage extending between a front end (16) and an opposed rear end (18) of said male half-coupling (2);- said female half-coupling (3) extends along a prevalent axial direction (X-X) and comprises an axial through passage extending between a front end (14) and an opposed rear end (15) of said female half-coupling (3), in said axial passage of said female half-coupling (3), a housing seat (10) being identified for reversibly housing an end section (P) of said male half-coupling (2), said housing seat (10) extending axially into said female half-coupling (3) from said front end (14) to a bottom axial abutment (6);- in said mutual coupling configuration said end section (P) of said male half-coupling (2) is inserted into said housing seat (10) of said female half-coupling(3) up to said bottom axial abutment (6);- a first axial section (L1) of said housing seat (10) of said female half-coupling (3) starting from, or in the vicinity of, said bottom axial abutment (6) and a corresponding first portion (P1) of said end section (P) of said male half-coupling (2) have substantially complementary cylindrical profiles;- said first axial section (L1) of said female half-coupling (3) comprises a first inner radial seat (8) in which first sealing means (9) are housed to ensure a fluid-tight coupling between said first axial section (L1) of said housing seat (10) of said female halfcoupling (3) and said first portion (P1) of said end section (P) of said male half-coupling (2) when said male half-coupling (2) and said female half-coupling (3) are in said mutual coupling configuration,and wherein said connector (1) comprises:- first valve means (4) housed in said axial through passage of said male half-coupling (2) susceptible to passing:• from a forward closing configuration, in which they prevent the passage of hydraulic fluid through said axial passage of said male halfcoupling (2) when said male half-coupling (2) and female half-coupling (3) are in saiddisengaged configuration,• to a backward opening configuration in which they allow hydraulic fluid to pass through said axial passage of said male half-coupling (2) when said male half-coupling (2) and said female half-coupling (3) are in said mutual coupling configuration;- second valve means (5) housed in said axial through passage of said female half-coupling (3) susceptible to passing:• from a forward closing configuration, in which they prevent the passage of hydraulic fluid through said axial passage of said female halfcoupling (3) when said male half-coupling (2) and female half-coupling (3) are in said disengaged configuration,• to a backward opening configuration in which they allow hydraulic fluid to pass through said axial passage of said female half-coupling (3) when said male half-coupling (2) and said female half-coupling (3) are in said mutual coupling configuration;- releasable locking means for releasably retaining said male half-coupling (2) in said mutual coupling configuration with said female half-coupling (3),characterised in that, proceeding from said bottom axial abutment (6) towards said front end (14), said housing seat (10), after said first axial section (L1), comprises a second axial section (L2) and a subsequent third axial section (L3), wherein:- said second axial section (L2) of said housing seat (10) comprises an annular recess (7) which identifies an annular recovery chamber open towards said housing seat (10);- said female half-coupling (3) comprises a drainage channel (11) to place said annular recovery chamber identified by said annular recess (7) in fluid communication with the outside;- said third axial section (L3) of said housing seat (10) comprises an annular seat (12) in which oil scraper means (13) configured to project into said housing seat (10) to act as an oil scraper on the portion of the outer surface of said end section (P) of said male half-coupling (2) positioned at said oil scraper means (13) are housed and retained,during the passage from said mutual coupling configuration to said disengaged configuration, the relative movement of said male half-coupling (2) with respect to said female half-coupling (3) determines an oil scraping action by said oil scraper means (13) onthe section of said male half-coupling (2) present in the section (L4) of said housing seat (10) comprised between said oil scraper means (13) and said bottom axial abutment (6), the oil scraped by said oil scraper means (13) being accumulated in said annular recovery chamber identified by said annular recess (7) of said female half-coupling to be evacuated to the outside through said drainage channel (11).

2. Connector (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said annular seat (12), in which said oil scraper means (13) are housed and retained, is positioned adjacent to or in the vicinity of said recovery chamber identified by said annular recess (7) of said female half-coupling (3), preferably said annular seat (12), in which said oil scraper means (13) are housed and retained, is positioned at a distance from said recovery chamber identified by said annular recess (7) less than 10 mm, more preferably at a distance less than 3 mm, even more preferably at a distance less than or equal to 0.7 mm.

3. Connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said oil scraper means (13) housed and retained in said annular housing (12) comprise an annular element made of polymeric material.

4. Connector (1) in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said oil scraper means (13) housed and retainedin said annular seat (12) comprise an O-ring gasket.

5. Connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said section (L4) of said housing seat (10) comprised between said oil scraper means (13) and said bottom axial abutment (6) has a length of at least 20 mm, more preferably a length of at least 30 mm, in order to perform an effective oil-scraping action by said oil scraper means (13) on the section of said male halfcoupling (2) present in the section (L4) of said housing seat (10) between said oil scraper means (13) and said bottom axial abutment (6).

6. Connector (1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first sealing means (9), preferably an O-ring, housed in said first inner radial seat (8) of said axial section (L1) are positioned at a distance from said bottom axial abutment (6) of said housing seat (10) less than 15 mm, more preferably at a distance less than 10 mm, more preferably at a distance less than or equal to 8 mm.

7. Connector (1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said annular recess (7) which identifies an annular recovery chamber open towards said housing seat (10) of said female half-coupling (3) extends for an axial section less than or equal to 15 mm, preferably extending for an axial section less than or equal to 10mm.

8. Connector (1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said first axial portion (L1) of said housing seat (10) of said female half-coupling (3) starting from, or in proximity of, said bottom axial abutment (6) and said corresponding first axial portion (P1) of said end portion (P) of said male half-coupling (2) create a precise coupling to each other when said male half-coupling (2) and said female half-coupling (3) are in said mutual coupling configuration.

9. Connector (1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the body of said female half-coupling comprises:- a first cylindrical sleeve (3a) equipped with said front end (14) of the female half-coupling (3) and an opposed distal end (23) and- a second cylindrical sleeve (3b) equipped with said rear end (15) of the female half-coupling (3) and an opposed distal end (24),said distal ends (23, 24) of said first cylindrical sleeve (3a) and of said second cylindrical sleeve (3b) being joined together fluid-tight with the interposition of a gasket (25), preferably an O-ring gasket.

10. Connector (1) in accordance with claim 9, wherein:- said distal end (23) of said first cylindricalsleeve (3a) is a female end,- said distal end (24) of said second cylindrical sleeve (3b) is a male end and- said male distal end (24) of said second cylindrical sleeve (3b) is coaxially engaged in said female distal end (23), preferably by means of a screw-nut coupling between complementary threaded parts.

11. Connector (1) in accordance with claim 10, wherein said bottom axial abutment (6) of said housing seat (10) is formed by said male distal end (24) of said second cylindrical sleeve (3b).

12. Connector (1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said end portion (P) of said male halfcoupling (2) comprises a second portion (P2) distal from said front end (16) of said male half-coupling (2) which identifies a circular cylindrical centring sleeve (30) which forms a precise coupling with a corresponding circular cylindrical portion (L5) of said housing seat starting from, or in the vicinity of, said front end (14) of said female half-coupling (3), so that, when said male half-coupling (2) and said female halfcoupling (3) are in said mutual coupling configuration, said second portion (P2) of said male half-coupling (2) identifies a circular cylindrical centring sleeve (30) of said end section (P) of said male half-coupling (2)in said housing seat (10) of said female half-coupling (3).

13. Connector (1) in accordance with claim 12, wherein said releasable locking means comprise:- an annular recess (19) formed in said second portion (P2) in said male half-coupling (2);- a plurality of locking balls (20) retained in a corresponding plurality of seats (21), positioned circumferentially offset from each other along the same section of said circular cylindrical portion (L5) of said female half-coupling (3), so as to be movable:• between a radially backward stroke end position, in which said locking balls (20) do not protrude into said housing seat (10), and• a forward stroke end position in which said locking balls (20) protrude for a portion thereof from their respective seat (21) into said housing seat (10);- a stop element (22) movably supported by said female semi-coupling (3) to pass reversibly from:• a forward position in which said stop element (22) is superimposed on said plurality of seats (21) to push and hold said locking balls (20) into said forward stroke end position in which they protrude for a portion thereof from saidrespective seat (21) into said housing seat (10) to• a backward position in which said stop element (22) is spaced from said plurality of seats (21) enabling said locking balls (20) to move to said radially backward stroke end position and - elastic means (27) acting on said stop element (22) to push said stop element (22) into said forward position with a predetermined elastic load.

14. Connector (1) in accordance with claim 13, wherein:- said stop element (22) comprises a ring nut coaxially mounted on said circular cylindrical portion (L5) of said female half-coupling (3) and axially movable with respect to said circular cylindrical portion (L5) of said female half-coupling (3) to pass from said forward position to said backward position, and- said female semi-coupling (3) comprises axial abutment means (28,29) to limit the displacement of said ring nut between said forward and said backward position.

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