Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to couplings.

[0002] While some embodiments of the technology are useful for rope, webbing, cable and other flexible line applications, some embodiments are useful for connecting rigid elements like rods and bars.

[0003] While one of the applications of the couplings described hereinbelow may be in fish pens, there are contemplated many different industries in which the coupling may be applied. For example, couplings hereindescribed, albeit in various sizes, may be found useful in transport, trucking, sailing, climbing, repelling, abseiling, boating, waterskiing, towing, and elsewhere.

Background Art

[0004] Rope-to-rope, rope-to-web and sling-to-sling connection failures are very common. Also, couplings between rigid elements often fail.

[0005] In rope-to-rope applications, knots are considered an important connection method, but every knot has drawbacks.

[0006] For example, bowlines are prized, in that they can be quickly tied to form an eye. They are able to be easily untied after being subjected to heavy loads, but they can be shaken loose under no-load conditions. This is undesirable in a dynamic loading environment, where there are repeated push-pull loads. More importantly, almost all knots have the disadvantage of reducing the breaking strength of the constituent rope or sheet.

[0007] Marine and water environments have these dynamic loading environments, because of wind, water and wave movements. This makes fish pens, for example, challenging applications for couplings and knots.

[0008] Other knots have similar issues, including the stopper, the reef, and others.

[0009] There are other solutions including eye splicing but these are extremely time consuming and completely impractical for installation in dynamic environments since they must be threaded bit by bit, with a splicing fid. Furthermore, any rope connection with a loop is prone to chafing and wear. [0010] There are other coupling methods - slings with eyes, carabiners, shackles, and the like. Each one has different advantages, but in high energy environments, each one lacks robustness with respect to wear and corrosion, and ready connection.

[0011] The present inventors have devised a new coupling for one or more flexible elements which substantially ameliorates one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages, or at least provides an alternative to known couplings.

Summary of Invention

[0012] Broadly, the present technology provides a quick coupler.

[0013] Some embodiments provide a flexible line element quick coupling and a rigid element coupling, or one, or the other.

[0014] The arrangement is such that the quick coupler has a connector body that is at least partially hollow and is configured to receive line end lugs, and a retainer for retaining the line end lugs in the connector body.

[0015] In accordance with one aspect of the present technology there is provided a quick coupler for a flexible line element or a rigid element, the quick coupler including: a connector body for receiving end lugs and at least a portion of at least one of the elements; and a retainer for retaining the end lugs in the connector body.

[0016] The end lugs may be on the end of a flexible line element or a rigid element.

[0017] The lugs may even be disposed partially along the flexible line element or partially along the rigid element.

[0018] The arrangement of certain embodiments is such that the connector body is formed in cooperating shell portions which receive and close around the line end lugs, while the retainer inhibits the separation of the shell portions to keep the lugs inside.

[0019] In one embodiment the connector body includes one or more receivers for at least partially receiving the line end lugs.

[0020] In one embodiment the connector body includes a frame including one or more spaced apart frame members to provide a frame interior volume for receiving the line end lugs therein. [0021] In one embodiment the one or more receivers are one or more recesses at least partially set into the connector body and configured to cooperate with the line end lugs to at least partially receive them at least partially in the connector body.

[0022] In one embodiment there is provided a closure for closing the one or more recesses of the connector body.

[0023] In one embodiment the connector body portions are hinged together.

[0024] In one embodiment the connector body includes two portions, one being a main body portion and another portion being the closure portion.

[0025] In one embodiment the two portions of the connector body are substantially equal in size.

[0026] In one embodiment the closure is one of the connector body portions.

[0027] In one embodiment there are provided two recesses, one sized to snugly cooperate with one line end lug, and one recess being sized to snugly cooperate with another line end lug.

[0028] In one embodiment the recesses are of equal size.

[0029] In one embodiment the connector body is elongate in form, wherein one flexible line lug is configured to be disposed at one end and another flexible line lug is disposed at another.

[0030] In one embodiment the connector body is at least partially cylindrical in form to deflect at least some impacts from nearby elements.

[0031] In one embodiment the retainer includes a sleeve for fitting over the connector body.

[0032] In one embodiment the sleeve is at least partially cylindrical in form.

[0033] In one embodiment the sleeve is hinged along an elongate axis to facilitate side entry onto the connector body.

[0034] In one embodiment the retainer includes a clamp for clamping the closure onto the connector body.

[0035] In one embodiment the retainer includes a fastener for fastening the connector body portions together.

[0036] In one embodiment the fastener includes a strap configured to extend around the connector body.

[0037] In one embodiment the retainer includes a lock for locking the retainer onto the connector body. [0038] In one embodiment the lock includes a locking body with a catch for receiving a male locking element.

[0039] In one embodiment the locking body is mounted on the flexible line element.

[0040] In one embodiment the lock includes two locking bodies, one disposed at either end of the retainer and connector body.

[0041] In one embodiment the locking body includes a flexible line mount which allows sliding along the flexible line element.

[0042] In one embodiment the locking body includes one or more end caps to protect the flexible line against damage from the actual locking body. In that regard, the locking body, being in one embodiment, a cylindrical body, involves a sharp increase in diameter over the flexible line. In operation, the flexible line could wear and kink at the end of the locking body. So, the end cap tapers the stresses on the flexible line by being itself in one embodiment tapered and in one embodiment, flexible.

[0043] In one embodiment the end cap includes an end cap body with a tapering cross section which is configured to bend about one or more axes.

[0044] In one embodiment the end cap body includes kerfing to facilitate bending.

[0045] In one embodiment the end cap includes a deflector to deflect impacts from adjacent elements.

[0046] In one embodiment the deflector includes a ramped end surface extending from the flexible line to the outer surface of the connector body.

[0047] In one embodiment the flexible line end lugs are in the form of an enlarged head at the end of the flexible line.

[0048] In one embodiment the flexible line end lugs are bulbous in form to inhibit release from the connector body.

[0049] In one embodiment the line end lugs are connected to or integral with the line end.

[0050] In one embodiment the line end lugs are fastened to the line end with a clamp, or screws or other mechanical fasteners.

[0051] In one embodiment the line end lugs are cast onto the line end.

[0052] In one embodiment the line end lugs are spherical, cylindrical, cuboid, rectangular prism, or other suitable shape. [0053] In one embodiment the line end lugs are frusto-conical elements, becoming thicker as they extend along the flexible line to the end, to reduce stresses on the connector body walls.

[0054] In one embodiment the line end lugs have an outside wall with which to engage a cooperating wall of the one or more receivers which is angled about 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, or 30°. The angle determines the ratio between radial and axial loads. Axial loads are higher for small angles. This is important to adjust the load distribution amongst the components based on their material selection.

[0055] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a coupling kit which includes: one or more line end lugs for fastening to one or more flexible line or rigid element ends; a connector body for receiving one or more of the line end or rigid element lugs; and a retainer for retaining the line end, or rigid element lugs, in the connector body.

[0056] In one embodiment the coupling kit further includes one or more flexible lines.

[0057] In one embodiment the flexible lines include one or more of the following: webbing straps, strops, cables, ropes or sheets.

[0058] In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a coupling kit which includes: one or more flexible lines which include one or more line end lugs integral with or fastened to one or more ends of the flexible lines; a connector body for receiving one or more of the line end lugs; and a retainer for retaining the line end lugs in the connector body.

[0059] In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a line end lug configured to mount on an end of a flexible line, the line end lug including a frusto conical body and a fastener for fastening to the end of the flexible line.

[0060] In one embodiment the fastener includes a clamp.

[0061] In one embodiment the fastener includes a strap.

[0062] In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of quick coupling ends of flexible line or rigid elements together, the method including the steps of: inserting line end lugs disposed on ends of the flexible line or rigid elements into opposing recesses on a connector body; closing the connector body recesses with a closure; keeping the closure on the connector body with a retainer.

[0063] In one embodiment the method further includes the step of fastening a line end lug on one or more ends of one or more flexible lines or rigid elements.

[0064] In one embodiment the fastening step includes casting the line lug onto the end of the flexible line.

[0065] In accordance with another aspect of the present technology there is provided a method of fastening a line end lug onto a rope, the method including the steps of: fraying the rope ends to increase surface area of the rope; casting or moulding a polymer lug onto the frayed end of the rope.

[0066] In one embodiment the casting or moulding step includes combining or mixing the polymer with a curing resin such as epoxy or polyurethane.

[0067] In one embodiment the moulding is an injection moulding process.

[0068] In one embodiment the retainer is fibre reinforced plastic to increase resistance to hoop stresses.

[0069] In one embodiment the retainer includes a resin transfer moulding.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0070] To enable a clearer understanding, the invention will now be described with reference drawings of an embodiment, and in those drawings:

[0071] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a coupling arrangement, showing the retainer and lock mounted on the connector body;

[0072] Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the coupling arrangement of Figure 1, with the connector body halves shown without the retainer;

[0073] Figure 3 is a plan view of the coupling arrangement of Figures 1 and 2, with the retainer removed, and one half of the connector body removed for clarity so as to show the line end lugs snugly fitted in the recesses of the connector body; and

[0074] Figure 4 is an isometric view of a flexible line end with a flexible line end lug, which is configured to fit snugly in a recess of the connector body. Description of Embodiments

[0075] Referring to the drawings there is shown a quick coupler generally indicate at 10, being for coupling ends of a flexible line element 5, together. The embodiment of quick coupler shown at 10 is particularly suited for high energy environments like fish farming, in particular, in offshore marine environments, but the dimensions and/or materials may be resized to provide larger or smaller embodiments that may suit climbing, abseiling, repelling, sailing, trucking and other transport applications.

[0076] Generally (and very broadly) speaking, the embodiment of the quick coupler shown at 10 provides a simple, secure and rapid coupling of one flexible line to another. To assemble, a connector body 20 in the form of a hollow casing 21 in two halves 22, 23, receives a pair of line end lugs 51, 52, end to end, and a retaining sleeve assembly 45 keeps the casing halves 22, 23 together, locked in place with a lock 60.

[0077] An alternative embodiment also has a hinge or flexible connection shown at 99 between the two halves 22, 23 to facilitate ready handling and closing of the two halves 22, 23. In this way the hollow casing 21 would be in two halves, but one piece, and in operation, closed like a clamshell.

[0078] Not only is it contemplated that the two halves are connected by the hinge, it could be that the connector body 20 has a receivers 25 (described below), and a lid or closure 30, which is hinged, and wherein the lid or closure 30 is essentially to close the receivers and not to receive the lugs. In at least one of these embodiments the lid, would, say, be flat.

[0079] In detail then, the quick coupler 10 includes a connector body 20 for receiving line end lugs 51 and 52 and a retainer 40 for retaining the line end lugs 51, 52 in the connector body 20.

Connector body

[0080] The connector body 20 includes one or more receivers 25 for at least partially receiving the line end lugs 51, 52, the receivers 25 including one or more at least partially hollow body portions 26 which include recesses 27, 28 at least partially set into the partially hollow body portion 26 and configured to cooperate with the line end lugs 51, 52 to at least partially receive them at least partially in the hollow body portion 26. The hollow body portion 26 may be a casing 21. [0081] It is contemplated that the hollow body portion 26 may comprise almost all the connector body 20, and may be open at one side, and then there may be a closure 30 for closing the one or more recesses 27, 28 disposed therein. But in the embodiment shown the connector body 20 includes two hollow body portions 26, being substantially equal in size to make equal sized shells 22, 23 to form the casing 21.

[0082] There are provided two recesses 27, 28, as mentioned, one sized to snugly cooperate with one line end lug 51, and one recess being sized to snugly cooperate with another line end lug 52. The recesses 27, 28 are of equal size, and are spaced apart so that the line lugs 51 and 52 fit into the ends of the casing 21 without bumping into one another or wearing against one another.

[0083] The connector body 20 is shown to be cylindrical in form to deflect at least some impacts from nearby elements.

Retainer

[0084] The retainer 40 includes a sleeve assembly 45 for fitting over the connector body. The sleeve assembly 45 is at least partially cylindrical in form to cooperate with the connector body 20.

[0085] The sleeve assembly 45 may be formed in one or two pieces so that it does not need to be slid over the end of the flexible line and may be fastened by a side of the connector body 20.

[0086] The retainer 40 includes a lock 60 for locking the retainer 40 onto the connector body 20. The lock 60 includes a locking body 62 with a catch 64 for receiving a male locking element 66. The locking body 62 is mounted on the flexible line element 5. The lock 60 includes two locking bodies 63, 65, one disposed at either end of the retainer and connector body. The locking body 63, 65 includes a flexible line mount 67 which is an aperture which allows sliding along the flexible line element 5. The locking body 63, 65 includes a deflector 68 to deflect impacts from adjacent elements. The deflector 68 includes a ramped end surface 69 extending from the flexible line 5 to the outer surface of the connector body.

Line end lugs

[0087] The flexible line end lugs 51, 52 are in the form of enlarged heads 53, 54 at the end of the flexible line 5, to inhibit release from the casing 21. The line end lugs 51, 52 are connected to or integral with the line end, but in the embodiment shown are cast onto the line end. The line end lugs may be any suitable shape, being spherical, cuboid, but as shown are frusto-conical elements 57, becoming thicker as they extend along the flexible line to the end, to reduce stresses on the connector body walls. The angle of the wall is about 15° from the longitudinal axis, which cooperates with that of the receivers in the body shell 22 or 23, to reduce stress concentrations. The wall angles could also be 5°, 10°, 20°, 25°, 30° or so, depending on the overall shape (rectangular prism, frusto-cone, other prismoid shape, etc) and diameter of the lugs.

[0088] To form the lugs 51, 52 onto the end of a flexible line 5 such as a rope (or a webbing strap, or like line), the ends of the rope are frayed to increase the surface area in contact with the lug, and then placed in a casting mould or injection mould, and then a polymer is injected or poured into the mould with a curing resin.

[0089] The coupling 10 may be provided in a kit form, and the elements assembled together.

Assembly

[0090] As mentioned the assembly is fairly straightforward: the line end lugs 51, 52 are placed in the recesses 27, 28 of one half of a connecting body shell 22 or 23. The other half of the shell is closed over the lugs 51, 52 and then the retaining sleeve assembly 45 is placed over the shells 22, 23 and its own male lugs 62 are snapped home into the catches 64 on the locking bodies 63, 65. This happens quickly and even if a little tension is applied during assembly the forces are fairly quickly taken by the connecting body 20 if it is closed quickly enough.

[0091] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0092] It is to be understood that any prior art publication referred to herein does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art.

[0093] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.