The present invention relates to a quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems.

As is known, in order to make the connection between components, such as pipes, connectors, valves, etc., of liquid or gas distribution systems, special connecting elements are traditionally used.

For example, in order to make the connection between a valve element and a connecting element there can be, inside the body of the valve element, a cylindrical seat to which an end portion of the connecting element couples, provided as a cylindrical sleeve.

On the portion of this cylindrical sleeve that protrudes from the seat provided in the body of the valve element, an axial shoulder is defined which is directed away from the body of the valve element, and which is engaged by an elastic ring, which is activated using a ring nut which is associated, so that it can slide axially, with the body of the valve element.

Once the elastic ring has been used to activate the axial locking of the cylindrical sleeve end relative to the body of the valve element, the ring nut is locked with a safety band interposed between the ring nut and the body of the valve element, so as to make absolutely certain that the ring nut cannot disengage the elastic ring that effects the axial locking of the connecting element relative to the body of the valve element.

In order to overcome the problems existing in traditional solutions, such as for example structural complexity and the operational difficulties in assembly, EPI024324, in the name of the same owner, devises and discloses a device (subsequently given the trade name FASTEC) for making the connection between the body of the valve element and a connecting element, which comprises a cylindrical or conical seat, defined in the body of the valve element, and a substantially cylindrical or conical sleeve, which can be coupled to the seat and which is provided at the end of the connecting element to be connected to the valve element.

Sealing means are interposed between the above-mentioned seat and the sleeve.

The sleeve is provided, on the outer lateral surface of its portion that can be inserted in the seat, with at least one axial shoulder which is directed away from the end of the sleeve that can be inserted in the seat and which can be arranged, with the insertion of the sleeve in the seat, at at least one passage defined in the portion of the body of the valve element that is occupied by the seat and which interferes with the lateral surface of the seat.

This passage extends along a direction that is substantially straight and perpendicular to the axis of the seat, and it can be occupied by a locking pin which defines an abutment for the shoulder mentioned above in order to prevent the axial extraction of the sleeve from the seat.

The axial shoulder is, in particular, defined by a groove provided on the outer lateral surface of the portion of sleeve that is inserted in the seat.

In practice, the groove defines two mutually opposite axial shoulders and the pin is engaged between these.

The device further comprises means for retaining the pin in the passage.

In conventional solutions, these means comprise an elastically compressible ring which is arranged coaxially in the passage and which can be passed through with friction by the pin.

According to what is disclosed in EP 1024324, the mouth of the passage has a threaded seat and the ring is placed on the bottom of this threaded seat. A threaded bushing engages this threaded seat and locks the ring in the passage. By partially screwing or unscrewing the bushing it is possible to vary the degree of expansion of the ring and therefore the degree of retention by friction applied by the ring on the pin.

Other known solutions involve substituting the threaded bushing with a ring that is rectangular in cross-section and has a notch and is elastically expandable in order to lock the elastically compressible ring in the seat.

The retention means further comprise means for stopping the sliding of the pin along the passage in a first position in which the pin is partially inserted in the passage but is disengaged from the sleeve, and in a second position in which the pin is inserted in the passage and is engaged with the sleeve.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems that is structurally simple, thus achieving greater simplicity both at the production stage and at the assembly stage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems that is highly reliable, easy to implement and of low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of two plumbing components being connected with a quick connection device according to the invention; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the two plumbing components of Figure 1 connected to each other with the quick connection device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of the components shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the quick connection device taken along the plane of arrangement identified by the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view from above of a quick connection device according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along the plane of arrangement identified by the line VII-VII and with the locking pin fully inserted in the passage;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 7 with the locking pin partially inserted in the passage;

Figure 9 is an enlarged- scale view of a portion of the cross-section of Figure 7 of a first embodiment of the seating of the retention device;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 8 of a second embodiment of the seating of the retention device;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a connecting element with a variation of embodiment of the retention device;

Figure 12 is a front elevation view of the connecting element of Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane of arrangement identified by the line XIII-XIII in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an enlarged- scale view of a detail of the cross-section of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of a connector;

Figure 16 is a front elevation view of the connector of Figure 15; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along the plane of arrangement identified by the line XVII-XVII in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a variation of embodiment of a connecting element;

Figure 19 is a front elevation view of the connecting element of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane of arrangement identified by the line XX-XX of Figure 19, with the locking pin fully inserted in the passage;

Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 20 with the locking pin partially inserted in the respective passage.

With reference to the figures, the quick connection device for connection between components of liquid or gas distribution systems according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a substantially cylindrical or conical seat 2 defined in a first component 10a, and a substantially cylindrical or conical sleeve 3, defined in a second component 10b.

The sleeve 3 can be mated with the seat 2 and has, on the outer lateral surface of the portion thereof that can be inserted in the seat 2, at least one axial shoulder 4, which is directed away from the end of the sleeve 3 that can be inserted in the seat 2.

The shoulder 4 is arranged at at least one passage 20 defined in the portion of the first component 10a that is occupied by the seat 2.

The passage 20 extends along a substantially straight direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the seat 2 and is occupiable by a locking pin 21.

The locking pin 21 defines an abutment for the at least one axial shoulder 4 in order to prevent the axial extraction of the sleeve 3 from the seat 2.

The device 1 further comprises means for retaining the locking pin 21 in the passage 20.

The retention means comprise means for stopping the sliding of the locking pin 21 along the passage 20 in a first position, in which the locking pin 21 is partially inserted in the passage 20 (as shown in Figure 8) but is disengaged from the sleeve 3, and in a second position (shown in Figure 7), in which the locking pin 21 is inserted in the passage 20 and engages with the sleeve 3.

The stopping means further comprise two circumferential grooves 21a, 21b which are defined on the lateral surface of the locking pin 21 and are mutually spaced apart along the extension of the locking pin 21.

According to the present invention, the retention means comprise a retention device 30 accommodated in a respective receptacle 23 arranged at the mouth of the passage 20.

The retention device 30 comprises a supporting body 31 and at least one elastically flexible wing 32 which is connected at one end to the supporting body 31 and has, at the other end, an engagement body 33 which can move between a position that is closer to the axis 100 of the locking pin 21, in which it is adapted to engage a respective circumferential groove 21a, 21b in order to lock the locking pin 21, and a position that is farther from the axis 100 of the locking pin 21, so as to allow the locking pin 21 to slide along the passage 20.

The transition of the engagement body 33 from the closer position to the farther position occurs as a result of the movement of the locking pin 21 along the respective axis 100.

In particular, the locking pin 21 defines a substantially cylindrical lateral surface, which is arranged between the circumferential grooves 21a, 21b.

Between the circumferential grooves 21a, 21b and the substantially cylindrical lateral surface respective conical connecting portions 22 are provided. Specifically, the conical connecting portions 22 are adapted to facilitate the transition of the at least one engagement body 33 from the position closer to the axis 100 to the position farther from the axis 100.

The function of the circumferential groove 21a is to indicate to the user, in a “sensory” manner, that the locking pin 21 has been inserted and, as a consequence, the connection is established between the two components 10. The elasticity of the wings 32 when they are inserted in the seat 21a facilitates the speed of insertion of the locking pin 21 (by virtue of the lower friction between the sliding parts) and their consequent approach toward the axis 100 generates a “click” by virtue of which the user perceives that closure is achieved.

The circumferential groove 21b, in addition to ensuring the same effect when the locking pin 21 is brought to the partially-inserted condition that allows the decoupling or coupling between the components 10, ensures the mechanical arrest of the locking pin by virtue of the presence of the stop edge 21c which is configured to abut against the end of the wings 32. Since the retention device 30 is in turn retained in the receptacle 23, the locking pin 21 cannot be extracted.

According to a further embodiment, the locking of the retention device 30 in the respective receptacle 23 can be obtained by using a screw- and-nut coupling.

The screw-and-nut coupling comprises, for example, a threading provided on the lateral surface of the supporting body 31 which meshes with a complementary threading provided at the mouth of the receptacle 23.

Advantageously, the supporting body 31 is provided in a single piece with the at least one wing 32 and is, preferably, made of plastic material.

The supporting body 31 is kept locked within the respective receptacle 23.

In particular, the supporting body 31 is axially locked by virtue of an abutment portion 40 and an inward-bending portion 41, shown in Figure 9, which is provided at the mouth of the receptacle 23, once the retention device 30 is coupled inside the receptacle 23.

As an alternative to the inward-bending portion 41, as shown in Figure 10, it is possible to have a locking bushing 50, for example engageable by way of threaded coupling at the mouth of the receptacle 23.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shoulder is defined by a circumferential recess defined on the outer lateral surface of the sleeve 3.

Specifically, the circumferential recess defines, on the outer lateral surface of the sleeve 3, two mutually opposite axial shoulders. In this case, the locking pin 21 engages between the two mutually opposite axial shoulders.

Preferably, the passage 20 is substantially tangential to the bottom of the circumferential recess defined on the outer lateral surface of the sleeve 3.

The device 1 is provided with sealing means, typically a gasket 61, interposed between the seat 2 and the sleeve 3.

The passage 20 interferes with the lateral surface of the seat 2.

The locking pin 21 comprises a head that protrudes at least partially from the first component 10a in which the seat 2 is defined, so as to allow the insertion and extraction of the locking pin 21 into and out of the passage 20.

With reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 11 to 21, it is possible for the supporting body 31 to be inserted in the respective receptacle 23 arranged at the mouth of the passage 20 through an insertion opening 60 which is defined laterally and which extends substantially radially with respect to the direction of extension of the passage 20.

The receptacle 23, in this case, is contoured to block the movement of the supporting body 31 axially, i.e. in the direction of extension of the passage 20, and to allow it to move exclusively along the insertion opening 60. The seating of the supporting body 31 inside the respective receptacle 23 is achieved when the respective locking pin 21 is completely disengaged from the passage 20. The subsequent insertion of the locking pin 21 in the passage 20, and of the supporting body 31 accommodated in it, locks the supporting body 31 in its position, stopping it from also moving in a radial direction, along the direction of extension of the insertion opening 60.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 18 to 21, it is possible to have two passages 20 arranged mutually parallel on opposite sides of the sleeve 3.

At least one of the two passages 20 can be engaged by a respective locking pin 21, while the other passage 20 can be engaged by a pin 21', if the supporting body 30 is not arranged inside the passage 20, or by a second locking pin 21 if a supporting body 30 is positioned along the second passage 20.

The locking pin 21 and the pin 21' (or the two locking pins 21) are mutually connected by way of a connecting body 70 which connects the end portions of the pins 21, 21' protruding from the respective passage 20.

Assembly of the device 1 is as follows.

With the sleeve 3 inserted in the seat 2, the circumferential recess is positioned at the passage 20. At this point, the locking pin 21 is inserted in the passage 20, thus performing the axial locking of the first component 10a with respect to the second component 10b.

The particular embodiment of the retention means makes it possible to facilitate the mounting of the locking pin 21 inside the passage 20 and at the same time to ensure both an extremely reliable locking of the locking pin 21 in the insertion position and the disengagement position and, at the same time, a practical movement of the locking pin 21 along the passage 20.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The content of Italian patent applications no. 102022000018366 and no. 102023000001533 from which this application claims priority is incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.