Automatic coupling device.

The invention relates to a coupling device for the front side or on the periphery of the sealed coupling of two substantially tubular or rod-shaped coupling pieces.

To pipe or tubing, is to be transported on the liquids or bulk to releasably connect, coupling devices are used, the end face of each other can be coupled coupling pieces must be reset manually before the coupling pieces can be separated from each other.

In conventional coupling devices, the sealing forces are generated by the inherent elasticity of elastic sealing rings or the like.. Due to age-related embrittlement or wear the sealing forces of conventional coupling devices can change, making a tight connection of the coupling pieces can not be guaranteed in any case.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coupling device which permits the end faces to connect sealed coupling pieces to be joined together with a defined contact pressure with each other.

According to the invention the coupling device comprises a base part to which a first of the two coupling pieces is slidably guided in the direction of its tube axis substantially and which has a stop on which a service associated with a second of the two coupling pieces counter-stop in the coupling end position, in which the coupling pieces are coupled, for example by abutting with their end faces to each other is fixed in the direction of its tube axis to the first coupling piece out at least one pivotally attached to the base part about a transverse to an axial-longitudinal of the first coupling piece extending pivot axis and guided displaceably in the axial-longitudinal-claw, which a drive member coupled to the first coupling member, a wedge surface transmission between the second coupling part and each claw, preferably of the type that it comprises mutually associated inclined thrust surfaces on each claw and the second coupling piece, with the inclined thrust surface of the second coupling piece facing away from the first coupling piece, and each claw to the tube axis of the coupling pieces out resiliently biasing spring means.

In a coupling device such is the contact pressure, with the rest, the two coupling pieces frontally together, essentially determined by the spring force of the spring means. The oblique thrust surfaces set the directed towards the tube axis component of the spring force in the manner of a wedge surface transmission order in a running in the direction of the tube axis force component, which is provided on the base member and the second coupling piece stops limit defines the amount of movement of the wedge surface transmission and thus the size of the force component. In particular caused by the limitation of the sliding movement of the jaws in dependence on the preload and the angle of the inclined sliding surface of the second coupling piece, a "safety valve function," when acting on the coupling pieces lateral forces or longitudinal tensile forces. The connection can be opened or move without entering destructions slightly. This movement can for example be detected by switch to initiate safety measures. Nevertheless, the connection remains fit and is immediately returned to its original position upon release of the load.

Since it is sufficient for the coupling of the two coupling pieces to put the two attacks against each other to produce a defined sealing force, the coupling device of the invention is particularly suitable for automatic coupling devices which can be both automatically closed and opened automatically. The invention is thus particularly suitable for the connection of reusable containers such as drums or the like. That by merely issuing the provided with the second coupling piece container on an example. Formed by the base part pad close the coupling device. In such a case, the container itself forms the counter-stop and the contact pressure determined by its placement position of the end seal. The container weight in this case holds the coupling device closed. The coupling device opens automatically when removing the container. A separation of the connection is possible only by acting from outside tensile or compressive forces to the claw. A pressure acting from the inside pressure or media relative to each other acts on the two coupling pieces forces can not dissolve the compound.

but can also be achieved by suitable dimensioning of the kinematics of the claw and the attacks that the mouth, based on the direction of the force of the spring device, in adjacent attacks occupy a top dead center position. Due to the over-center position, the spring force increases during the pulling apart, but in particular also the common longitudinal displacement of the coupling pieces to reach the dead center position and locked in the rest of the coupling pieces in the coupling device closed to each other.

The claws are both pivoted to permit an approach movement of the attacks, as well as with respect to its oblique thrust surfaces, transverse to the tube axis displaced to return the sealing force solely on the force of the spring means in adjacent attacks can.

In a particularly simple construction, the claw is both pivotally and transversely displaceably mounted to the tube axis to the base part by means of a pin-slot joint. This can be achieved particularly easily in that the slot is provided in the claw and on the oblique thrust surface of the claw-facing side of the slot extending through the stud in the claw is provided in the longitudinal direction of the long hole extending, to the slot open towards chamber in which a supported on the pin spring is arranged. When the chamber is for convenience to a along the elongated hole extending, the axis of the pin bore intersecting in the otherwise unitary claw.

To fix the claw in the direction of its pivot axis on the base part, the pin has expediently a circumferential groove into which the spring for fixing claw and pin engages relatively. In this way, only one of these two components must be fixed axially on the base part. Conveniently, for this purpose, the pawl is guided between two cheeks of the base part in order to prevent tilting movements of the claw, which would be possible due to the elongated hole. The pin may then be a simple plug-in pin.

Instead of a slot and tenon joint, which allows both the pivoting movement and the displacement movement of the claw, the claw can also be designed in two parts, and a swivel without radial play by a journal bearing mounted on the base part essentially first claw portion and a transversely to the tube axis have displaceably guided on the first claw part the second claw portion which is biased by a spring relative to the first claw part to the pipe axis. This variant allows claws with very precisely relative to the base member guided oblique thrust surfaces. The axial fixation of the first jaw member relative to the pin may occur with long-hole-pin-joint according to the pawl, wherein the engaging into a groove of the pin spring is arranged in a guide chamber in which the second claw portion is slidable.

The drive member transmits the reaction force of the inclined sliding surface of the claw on the base part relative to the first coupling piece guided displaceably. In a particularly simple variant, the driving element is designed as a flexible tension element, which enables not only the reaction force also has a transverse movement of its attachment points and the first claw coupling piece relative to each other. However, the assembly effort is reduced when the driving element is integrally formed on the claw, preferably in the form that the coupling pieces facing end of the pawl forms a two-legged fork, the first leg having the oblique thrust surface and the second leg a direction away from the second coupling member bearing surface of the first coupling piece engages behind.

The faces of the two coupling parts are suitably sealed by a sealing ring in the face of one or both coupling pieces against each other, for example. In the form that one of the coupling pieces carries a ring seal, which is assigned a ring cutting the other coupling piece. In order to achieve a uniform contact pressure over the circumference of the seal, the coupling pieces are preferably embodied rotationally symmetrical and there are mounted a plurality of spaced around the tube axis at equal angular intervals claws on the base part. Ring seals of the type described above are uniformly stressed in this way. Nor can the oblique thrust surfaces of the second coupling piece of manufacturing technology form as a conical surface particularly easy.

The defined contact pressure is not dependent on an elastic seal. It may be at the sealing surfaces and two hard superimposed and high-precision surfaces.

However, the coupling pieces can be inserted into each other slightly. The seal is then made by a located on the periphery of a coupling piece seal. This results in high-pressure resistant and precisely positioned compounds. With automatic indexing, clamping or locking of the jaw, the connection is unintentionally unsolvable. In this case only allows a controlled solution of indexing the separation.

The oblique thrust surfaces of the claws are already at the tapering thrust surfaces of the second coupling piece, while the abutments closer to one another. In order to achieve always a defined contact position of the mutually associated inclined thrust surfaces, is provided in a preferred embodiment in that the oblique thrust face of the second coupling piece or the claw has a convexly curved contour and the respective other inclined sliding surface has a substantially rectilinear contour. The due simpler manufacturing the convex contour of the claw is provided.

The first coupling piece is expediently guided on the base part displaced, for example by means of base part fixed guide rails or the like. A particularly stable guidance can be achieved when the base member carries a guide tube, in which the first coupling member is guided in the direction of the tube axis. Preferably, the first coupling piece is performed with tilting clearance in the guide tube. This has the advantage that the first coupling piece can align automatically to the second coupling piece, even if the second coupling piece is fitted with a tilting error.

The guide tube is preferably present on the first coupling piece in the direction of the tube axis and at the same time forms a guide for the second coupling piece, which centers the coupling pieces relatively to each other. The second coupling piece near the end of the guide tube can hereby form an insertion funnel which facilitates the bringing together of the two coupling pieces.

As appropriate, it has been found, when the second coupling piece near its the first coupling piece end facing a radially projecting annular flange for the guide on the guide tube. The guide flange limits the axial height of the guided on the guide tube surfaces of the second coupling piece, so that this can be to jam even when a comparatively large tilting error without inserted into the guide tube. Since the annular flange is the first coupling piece provided closely adjacent, also the centering decreased at slanting imported second coupling piece. The annular flange can also form de oblique thrust surface of the second coupling piece.

In the opening and closing movement of the coupling device, the first coupling member moves relative to the base part. To offset this displacement movement relative to the other adjacent to the base portions of the liquid or bulk path may, for example between these sections and the first coupling piece. A flexible piece of tubing can be provided. In a preferred embodiment, however, a tubular piece is held on the base part, sealed on its upper end and is guided in the direction of the tube axis, slidably mounted on the first coupling piece and in particular in the first coupling piece. Such an embodiment allows, in particular a stable stationary terminal. To keep the wear in check and prevent terminals of the first coupling piece is expediently provided between the upper end of the pipe section and the first coupling piece a particular on the first coupling piece held sliding sleeve.

Preferably, the media flow is made conditional by the coupling device on the position of the jaw, eg switch actuation or mechanical valve opening depends on the clamping position.

Instead specially provided with a skirt special barrels, which are expensive to manufacture, and conventional drums with an inventively adapted adapter ring can be used. The bottling meet from 1 to 3 such adapter rings, which the barrel lengthening skirt and a floor inside the skirt consist essentially of the. The mounting of the adapter ring on the barrel is carried out by a conventional clamping ring in place of the removed cover. After attaching the adapter ring, the barrel is overthrown and parked on the apron of the adapter ring. Via a provided in the bottom of the adapter ring drain cock the barrel is emptied.

The invention is further illustrated by a drawing. This shows<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a side view of a dispenser for automatically dockable reusable containers;</dd><dt>Fig. 1A</dt><dd>a barrel with adapter ring;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a sectional view of an automatic coupling device of the dispenser according to the arrow II in Figure 1 in a coupled reusable containers.</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a sectional view of the coupling device while off returnable containers;</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a partially broken view of a claw of the coupling device, as seen along line IV-IV in Fig. 2 and </dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a variant of a usable in the coupling device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 claw.</dd></dl>

Refillable reusable containers for liquids or the like should. Can be connected with minimal installation effort to pin devices. Fig. 1 shows a dispensing device in the form of a table 1, on the table surface 3 a refillable reusable container, here in the form of a barrel 5, can be turned off. The barrel 5 stands on a skirt 7 formed through its peripheral wall and carries at its bottom 9, a drain cock 11 which is sealed by means of a subsequently explained in greater detail, automatic coupling device 13 to the upper end of a fall pipe 15 detachable. Instead of such a special barrel, as illustrated in Fig. 1a, also commercially available barrels are used by mounted on this in exchange for the lid, an adapter ring (70) and is attached to the clamping ring (71) for the lid. The adapter ring (70) thus comprises the skirt 7 and the base 9 with the drain cock 11. At the lower end of the drop tube 15 is a nozzle 17 connected, through which the contents of the drum 5 can be removed dosed. Instead the tap 17 can, if necessary. Other dispensing devices, such as a pump or the like., Can be provided. The cock 11 is open continuously for bodies put on the tapping device 1 barrel 5 and is closed only for the transport of the cask. 5

Figs. 2 and 3 show details of the coupling device 13 when attached to the table surface 3 of barrel 5 (Fig. 2) or is lifted from the table surface 3 of barrel 5 (Fig. 3). The coupling device 13 comprises two tubular coupling pieces 19, 21 which are mutually detachable sealed end face. Both the closing and the opening of the coupling device 13 is effected, except for the opening or closing of the faucet faßseitigen 11, automatically. The coupling pieces 19, 21 are at least rotationally symmetrical in the region of to be coupled together end faces, the lower coupling piece 19 is sealed with the downpipe 15 is connected, while the upper coupling piece 21 forms a unit with the valve 11 and to the floor 9 of the drum 5 attached is. The indicated at 23 tube axes of the coupling pieces 19, 21 run in the position of use substantially vertically. However, any other location possible.

The lower coupling piece 19 is guided vertically in a guide tube 25 of the PTO table with something Sideplay displaced and is lined with a sliding sleeve 27, at the upper end of the drop tube 15 rests sealed with a seal 29th The dimension tolerances are selected so that the downpipe 15 also permits a slight tilting movement of the coupling piece 19th The lower end of the downpipe, if it is a rigid downpipe 15, also be pivotally connected to the tap 17th

The upper coupling piece 21 is from the bottom of the barrel 9 5 downwards and located to protect it completely within the area enclosed by the skirt 7 of the barrel 5 space. at its end facing the coupling piece 19, the lower end of which carries the coupling piece 21 a radially projecting annular flange 31, with which it is in the out on the coupling piece 19 upwardly projecting guide tube 25 radially to the tube axis 23 and centered relative to the coupling piece of 19th A arranged at the upper end of the guide tube 25, upwardly located inside insertion funnel 33 facilitates the bringing together of the coupling pieces 19, 21st

One of the coupling pieces, here the lower coupling piece 19, carrying at its end an elastic ring seal 35, while the other coupling piece, here the upper coupling piece 21, the end face an be placed on the ring seal 35 ring cutter 37 forms. The contact force, the annular cutting edge 37 the sealing ring 35 loaded with the will, however, not determined by the weight of the cask 5, but by a plurality of spring-loaded jaws 39 which are mounted at equal angular distances from each other around the coupling piece 19 around on the spigot table tiltable. The claws 39 are pivoted on pin 41 of the pin table about perpendicular to the axial-longitudinal of the coupling piece 19 extending pivot axes. The pins 41 pass through slots 43 of the claws 39, 39 allow a sliding movement of the jaws in the axial-longitudinal. The the coupling elements 19, 21 adjacent ends of the claws 39 each form a two-legged fork 45 which engages behind with a first leg 47, an axially facing away from the coupling piece 21, formed by an annular groove 39 stop shoulder 51 of the coupling piece 19 and with its second leg 53 at an outer cone 55 rests, which is formed on the side facing away from the coupling piece 19 side of the annular flange 31 and tapering directed away from the coupling piece 19th While the outer cone 55 as viewed in the axial-longitudinal, rectilinear contour, has the contour of the outer cone 55 resting against the leg 53 of the claw 39 is convex curved in order to ensure a defined installation. On the coupling pieces 19, 21 facing side of the spigot 51 39 helical compression springs 59 between the pin 41 and the pawl 39 are mounted in chambers 57 of the claws 39, the claws burden to the tube axis 23 toward.

The outer cone 55 forms together with the concavely curved inclined thrust surfaces of the legs 53, a wedge surface transmission that converts the radial thrust of the claws 39 in an axial thrust force, the coupling pieces 19, 21 against each other axially. Since the barrel 5 rests with its skirt 7 on the table surface 3, the coupling piece 21 relative to the table surface 3, is fixed. The wedge surface transmission converts the radial thrust movement of the pawl 39 in a stroke which 19 upwardly pulls relative to the table surface 3 movable coupling piece against the coupling piece 21st The contact force is thereby exclusively determined by the spring force of the springs 59th By suitable dimensioning of the spring force of the springs to a sufficient sealing effect with optimum protection of the annular seal can be achieved 35th Since more claws are provided distributed 39 in the circumferential direction, the ring seal 35 is charged uniformly in the circumferential direction. This behavior does not change even when the tube axis 23 of the coupling piece 21 obliquely against the table top 3 is inclined. The coupling piece 19 may be due to the tilting clearance, with which it is guided in the guide tube 25, axially parallel align the coupling piece 21st Due to the concave curvature of the oblique thrust surface of the leg 53 of each claw 39, the power transmission ratios between jaw 39 and the outer cone 55 change only insignificantly.

Fig. 3 shows the conditions with open coupling device 13 before weaning or after lifting the barrel 5 of the table top 3. The cock 11 is closed and the claws 39 are applicable pivoted upwards that their legs are 53 exits the guide tube 25 , The legs 47 of the claws 39 have the coupling piece 19 is raised toward the insertion funnel 33 upwards. If, for example. The barrel 5 is lowered so directs the guide funnel 33, the coupling piece 21 in the guide tube 25 inside. The fitting on the sealing ring 35 ring cutter 37 presses the coupling piece 19 downward. The coupling piece 19 takes over his shoulder 51 with the claws 39 and simultaneously put the leg 53 on the outer cone 55 at. With the engagement between the outer cone 55 and legs 53, the hitherto circular movement of the leg 53 comes into a movement parallel to the tube axis 23 through, whereby the distance between the contact point and the pin 1 is reduced and, if necessary. Biased built-in springs 59 to be further stretched , With the installation of the skirt 7 on the table surface 3, the pivotal movement of the jaw 39 comes to rest and the contact pressure with which the sealing ring 35 is pressed against the annular cutter 39 is determined solely by the force of the springs 59th When releasing the coupling device, the movement sequence takes place in reverse order. In any case, however, it is sufficient to lift only the drum 5 from the table surface 3rd

The illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 leg 47 of the claw 39 has the function of a drive member, which is to couple the coupling piece 19 with the pawl 39. Since this drive member in the illustrated embodiment only needs to transmit tensile forces, instead of the leg 47 also has a cable connection between the coupling piece 19 and the claw 39 may be provided, as indicated in Fig. 2 at 60.

The direction of the coupling pieces 19, 21 exerted by the spring 59 through the claw 39, the resultant force intersects the axis of the pin 41, and changes its angle to the pipe axis 23 during the opening and closing of the coupling device. Depending 3 relative to the axis of the pin 41 and thus the position of the coupling pieces 19, 21 relative to the jaws 39 when resting against the table surface 3 apron 7, the claws 39 with contrasting to the table surface 3 of the barrel 5 in the position of the table surface a Vortotpunktlage are. While the resultant force direction of the claws runs in the dead center perpendicular to the tube axis 23, load the springs 59, the claws 39 in the Vortotpunktlage in the opening direction of the coupling device 13, while 13 tension in over-center position, the coupling device in the closing direction. FIG. 2 shows in full lines the jaws in center position with coupling device closed. This type of arrangement allows optimum utilization of the spring forces. shown in dashed lines is at 41 'but also the position of the pin with Supported out because spring 59' for an over-center position. The arrangement of the claws 39 in over-center position has the advantage that decrease after exceeding the Übertotpunkts the spring forces during the closing operation of the coupling device again. When opening the coupling device that the dead center toward first increasing spring force must therefore first be overcome. This spring characteristic can be exploited regardless of the waxed load for mutual locking of the two coupling pieces 19, 21 to each other by the barrel. 5 This may be for drums or containers with flexible and resilient flooring advantageous in which the decreases, the coupling piece 21 pushing-down force of gravity with increasing emptying of the container. According to the above principle of over-center position of the mouth but can also be other self-closing and opening coupling devices, eg. For hose couplings, but also for mechanical or electrical connections, build.

Fig. Figure 4 shows details of the mounting of the claws 39. The claws 41 are guided between two cheeks 61 in the axial direction of the pin, wherein the pin 41 axially opposite the holes 63 of the cheeks 61 is seated. When the chamber 57 is an elongated hole 43 intersecting bore receiving the spring 59th For axial fixing of the pin 41 in the holes 63 of the pin 41 is provided with a circumferential groove 65, in which the spring 59 is snapped. The spring 59 is thus exploited to fix the peg 41st

FIG. 5 shows a variant of a claw 39a which can be used instead of the pawl 39 at the illustrated reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 coupling device. Functionally identical components are designated by the reference numerals of Fig. 1 to 4 and provided to distinguish with the letter a. For an explanation is made to the description of Fig. 1-4 reference. The claw 39a has a base body 67, which in turn forms at its the coupling pieces not shown end facing a two-legged fork 45a for clamping the coupling pieces. While that is the lower coupling piece in FIG. 2 associated leg 47a integrally connected to the base 67, of the upper coupling piece associated leg 53a is guided transversely to the claw 39a stored in table solid webs 61a pin 41a slidably mounted on the base body 67. The leg 53a is, for example, designed as a cylindrical bolt which is shaped spherical or crowned at its the coupling pieces facing the outer end 69 and projects with its inner end into one of the pin 41a transversely through sat chamber 57a of the base body 67th Between the inner end of the pin 53a and the pin 41a, a compression spring 59a is clamped, the pin 53a presses the outwardly. the pin 41a However, unlike the claw 39 of FIG. 2 to 4 penetrated no slot, but a cylindrical hole 43a of the base body 67. The claw 39a of FIG. 5 is characterized by particularly exact guidance of cooperating with the outer cone of the upper coupling piece end 67 relative of the table. 41a of the pins shown in FIG. 4 may be provided with a circumferential groove for the engagement of the spring 59a in order to fix the pin 41a and the claw 39a relative to each other.