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CN-122029373-A - Quick connect assembly with connecting locking piston and low load loss

CN122029373ACN 122029373 ACN122029373 ACN 122029373ACN-122029373-A

Abstract

A quick coupling assembly (1) suitable for connecting pressurized hydraulic lines is described, comprising a female coupling (2) and a male coupling (3) connectable with the female coupling (2), wherein the female coupling (2) can be associated with a machine suitable for generating hydraulic pressure, and the male coupling (3) can be associated with a device. The female coupling (2) comprises an outer part (4) fixable to the machine, at least one solid piston (26) without a through cavity, and an inner part (5) sliding within the outer part (4) along a connection axis (X), wherein the connection axis (X) defines an axial direction. The solid piston (26) is adapted to move radially between a first position, in which connection between the female coupling (2) and the male coupling (3) is allowed, and a second position, in which connection between the female coupling (2) and the male coupling (3) is prohibited. A solid piston (26) is housed in a radial seat (25) of the inner part (5).

Inventors

  • Sergio Tieweili

Assignees

  • 斯图奇公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240927
Priority Date
20231010

Claims (6)

  1. 1. A flat-faced quick-coupling assembly (1) suitable for connecting pressurized hydraulic lines, comprising a female coupling (2) and a male coupling (3) connectable with the female coupling (2), wherein the female coupling (2) is associated with a machine suitable for generating hydraulic pressure, and the male coupling (3) is associated with agricultural equipment, Wherein the female coupling (2) comprises an outer part (4) fixed to the machine by means of a joint (6) to be integral with the machine, allowing a fluid under pressure to pass through the joint (6), at least one solid piston (26) without a through cavity, and an inner part (5) sliding inside the outer part (4) along a connection axis (X) defining an axial direction, The outer part (4) and the inner part (5) are shaped so as to form an axial chamber (18) suitable for maintaining the hydraulic pressure generated by the machine, Wherein the solid piston (26) is provided with a head (261), a stem (262) and a bottom (265) and is adapted to move radially between a first position, in which the connection between the female coupling (2) and the male coupling (3) is allowed, and a second position, in which the connection between the female coupling (2) and the male coupling (3) is forbidden, Wherein when there is a hydraulic pressure in the female coupling (2) equal to or greater than a threshold value, the solid piston (26) is in the second position, thereby preventing connection between the male coupling (3) and the female coupling (2), Wherein the solid piston (26) comprises a lateral seat (264) for a gasket (28) suitable for ensuring a seal between the axial chamber (18) and a chamber (29) housing an elastic element (27), the elastic element (27) being suitable for forcing the solid piston (26) in the first position, It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, The solid piston (26) is housed in a radial seat (25) of the inner part (5), Wherein the outer part (4) and the inner part (5) are shaped to form a locking seat (200) to which the head (261) of the solid piston (26) is selectively adapted to access according to the hydraulic pressure in the axial chamber (18), in the second position of the solid piston (26) the head (261) of the solid piston (26) is located inside the locking seat (200), the locking seat being shaped to allow disconnection between the male coupling (3) and the female coupling (2) with the male coupling (3) and the solid piston (26) in the second position, a pressure seal being formed between the axial chamber (18) and the locking seat (200) by means of the gasket (28), a lateral seat (264) of the gasket (28) being located on the bottom (200) of the solid piston (26), the elastic member (27) being located in the radial seat (265) and the locking seat (25).
  2. 2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic element (27) is adapted to push an annular thickness portion (267) of said solid piston (26) onto an abutment portion (911) of said inner part (5), said elastic element (27) acting radially between said annular thickness portion (267) and an annular element (271), said annular element (271) being integral with said inner part (5).
  3. 3. Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a pressure relief valve (17) associated with the inner part (5) and adapted to selectively connect a pressure relief chamber (900) with a discharge conduit (30), the pressure relief chamber (900) being hydraulically connected with the axial chamber (18) via a gap (901).
  4. 4. An assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure release valve (17) comprises a shutter (171) axially movable between a closed position, in which the pressure release chamber (900) is sealingly separated from the discharge conduit (30), and a pressure release position, in which the pressure release chamber (900) is hydraulically connected to the discharge conduit (30).
  5. 5. The assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pressure release position of the stop (171) is reached after one end (173) of the stop (171) abuts against a radial wall (300) of the outer part (4), the stop (171) comprising a narrow central portion (172).
  6. 6. An assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The outer part (4) comprising a female body (7), an annular screw (8) and the coupling (6) for connection to the machine, the coupling, female body and annular screw (8) being integral with each other, The inner part (5) comprises a sliding body (9), a stopper (10) and an annular screw holder (11) adapted to receive a ball (12), Wherein the radial seat (25) for the solid piston (26) is formed in the sliding body (9), the pressure relief valve (17) being associated with the sliding body.

Description

Quick connect assembly with connecting locking piston and low load loss Technical Field The present invention relates to a quick coupling assembly with a connecting locking piston and low load loss. Background In the agricultural machine industry, quick coupling assemblies suitable for connecting pressurized hydraulic lines are widely used, wherein the working pressure of the fluid (industrial oil) does not exceed 300 bar. The quick-connect assembly includes a female coupling adapted to be inserted into a female coupling associated with a machine, such as a tractor, and a male coupling associated with equipment to be connected to the machine, such as a weeder. When the machine is running, there is a minimum pressure (about 10 bar) in the hydraulic system of the machine and thus in the female coupling. For safety reasons, regulations require that the male coupling be connected to the female coupling in the presence of said pressure or higher, since otherwise said pressure would be transmitted to the device, which would be accidentally moved. For example, when the machine is shut down, the system pressure is kept below 10 bar. In that case, the connection between the male coupling and the female coupling is allowed. US-2020/0332937 describes a quick coupling assembly comprising a female coupling and a male coupling, wherein the male coupling is adapted to be inserted into the female coupling, a hydraulic connection being established between the female coupling and the male coupling under pressure. The female coupling includes an outer body secured to a machine, such as a tractor, and an inner body that slides axially within a cavity in the outer body. The female coupling comprises a head at which the connection with the male coupling takes place, and a rear at which the connection with the machine takes place. The female coupling further comprises a piston adapted to move radially, i.e. in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the quick coupling assembly, along which the movement of the connection between the female coupling and the male coupling is performed. The piston is adapted to move between a first position, in which connection between the female coupling and the male coupling is allowed, and a second position, in which said connection is prohibited. The piston includes a head portion and a stem portion. A bore extending along the axis of the piston, i.e. along said radial direction of the assembly, passes through both the head and the stem. There are two washers between the piston and the side wall of its seat, one on the head and one on the stem. The through bore fluidly communicates the cavity of the female coupling with a chamber located above the top of the piston head. With reference to the axis of the quick-connect assembly, the piston head is wider than the stem. Below the head, around the upper end of the piston rod portion, there is a spring which acts in the direction of the piston axis, in particular which biases the piston towards the outside of the female coupling, i.e. which tends to reduce the extent to which the lower end of the piston rod portion protrudes into the cavity of the female coupling. The pressure discharge channel is communicated with the bottom of the piston head, where the elastic piece is located. The piston moves along its axis in response to the force differential on the piston head caused by the spring (outward thrust) and the hydraulic pressure (inward thrust). The elastic member is calibrated such that when the pressure in the female coupling cavity exceeds the pressure threshold, the piston moves to the second position, i.e. inwards, preventing sliding of the inner sliding body of the female coupling, the connection between the female coupling and the male coupling being disabled. If the pressure in the female coupling chamber is below said threshold value, the piston is in said first position, and the connection between the female coupling and the male coupling can be made. Disadvantageously, the alignment of the elastic member is very complicated, and the dimensions of the stem and head must be precisely considered. Furthermore, the elastomer seat is very small, since the female coupling cavity must have sufficient space for the internal female coupling body to slide. It is therefore not possible to install an elastic element with excessive load, i.e. the piston can only remain in a position available for connection at low pressure values, below 10 bar for normal use. Finally, two washers must be provided, one at the head and one at the stem, and disadvantageously wear can rapidly reduce the accuracy of piston actuation. Replacement of the washers and the elastic members is very complicated. WO-2022/248350 by the present inventors describes a quick coupling assembly suitable for connecting a hydraulic line under pressure, comprising a female coupling and a male coupling connectable with the female coupling, wherein the female coupling can be associated with a ma