Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for centralizing a quick connect nipple or a quick connect coupling and a method of assembling the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for centralizing, aligning, and floating a quick connect nipple or a quick connect coupling, with respect to its housing, and a method of assembling the same.

Background

A nipple, the male member, must be aligned with the coupling, the female member when a connection between the two is made. After a disconnection the nipple and the coupling may be misaligned. This leads to wear of the parts, leaking connections, and even makes connection impossible. It is desirable that the nipple and coupling can align to be concentric during connection and that the nipple and coupling are re-centred after a disconnection.

A further technical problem is that any nipple or coupling must fit and work together with already existing connections and parts. It is desirable that any solution is simple, not expensive to produce, is reliable, and can take up forces created during connection. It is further a technical problem to avoid cumbersome arrangements that are time consuming or expensive to manufacture or assemble.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for centralizing a quick connect nipple or a quick connect coupling. This object can be achieved by the features as defined by the independent claims. Further enhancements are characterized by the dependent claims. The invention is defined by the claims.

According to one embodiment, a system for centralizing a quick connect nipple or a quick connect coupling is disclosed. The system comprises a housing 10; a quick connect nipple 20, or a quick connect coupling, each comprising a first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22; and a hose connection 30, comprising a second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32. The system comprises a first centralizing ring 110 having a third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112 engaging the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20 or the quick connect coupling; and a second centralizing ring 120 having a surface 122 engaging with the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30. The system comprises a spring 130 forcing the third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112 of the first centralizing ring 110 and the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, against each other, and forcing the surface 122 of the second centralizing ring 120 and the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 against each other. Further enhancements are characterized by the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, a method for centralizing a quick connect nipple or coupling according to any one of the embodiments of the system is disclosed. The method comprises the spring 130 forcing the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, to align with the first centralizing ring 110 and the centralizing ring 120.

According to one embodiment, the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 may be a separate part of the hose connection 30 and made out of thermoplastic polyethylene, and/or the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may be a separate part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, respectively, and made out of thermoplastic polyethylene. These two may be configured as separate rings that may be attached to the hose connection 30, and one of the quick connect nipple 20 and the quick connect coupling.

According to one embodiment, a method of assembling the system according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein is disclosed. The method comprises snap-fitting the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 to the hose connection 30 as a step for assembling the system.

According to at least one embodiment, a system and method centralizing a quick connect nipple or a quick connect coupling. Embodiments of the system and method work together with already existing nipples and couplings. The system is not expensive to produce. At least one embodiment avoids cumbersome arrangements that are expensive to manufacture or difficult or time consuming to assemble.

At least one of the above embodiments provides one or more solutions to the problems and disadvantages with the background art. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims. Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment may be technically combined with any other claimed embodiment or embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the system, along a cut along the centre of the system in Fig 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the system in Fig 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the system in Fig 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

Detailed Description

Fig 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the system, and Fig 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the system along a cut through the central axis of the system. However, in Fig 2 the central through opening is not illustrated. Figs 3 and 4 show a preferred embodiment of the system. Figs 5 and 7 show the system along a cut through the central axis of the system. Fig 6 is a flow diagram of the method. The nipple is the male part and the coupling is the female part. Preferable the nipples and the couplings described herein are quick connect nipples and quick connect couplings. Figs 1-5 and 7 show a system for centralizing a quick connect nipple. The quick connect nipple may instead be a quick connect coupling. The system comprises a housing 10 and a quick connect nipple 20 and hose connection 30, or the system comprises a housing 10 and a quick connect coupling and hose connection 30. These four parts may each be separate parts from each other. The may be made out of metal or polymers. The hose connection 30 may be for connecting a hose for fluid, for example air. The housing 10 may be connectable to a structure, such as a manifold or rack or further housing.

The quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, each comprises a first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22. The first circumferential part cone- shaped surface 22 is substantially extending perpendicular to the axis 11 of the quick connect nipple 20, or coupling, and forms an acute angle with the axis, with the angle opening towards the centre of the housing 10. The angle may be 50 to 85 degrees. The first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 may be a separate part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, respectively, and made out of thermoplastic polyethylene, as a separate part it may be configured in a ring form with a straight side, perpendicular to the axis of the nipple 20, and the cone-shaped surface 22 opposite the straight side. This is best illustrated in Fig 7.

The hose connection 30 comprises a second circumferential part cone- shaped surface 32. The second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 is substantially extending perpendicular to the axis 11 of the hose connection 30 and forms an acute angle with the axis, with the angle opening away from the centre of the housing 10. The angle may be 50 to 85 degrees. The first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 and the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 may both have the identical angle to the common axis 11 of the quick connect nipple 20, or coupling, and the hose connection 30.

The system further comprises a first centralizing ring 110 having a third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112 engaging the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling; and a second centralizing ring 120 having a surface 122 engaging with the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30. The third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112 may be complementary to first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 by angle.

The system further comprises a spring 130 forcing the third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112 of the first centralizing ring 110 and the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, against each other, and forcing the surface 122 of the second centralizing ring 120 and the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 against each other. The first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 is in contact with the third circumferential part cone- shaped surface 122 of the housing 10. The second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 is in contact with the surface 122 of the housing 10. By the shape of the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 and the spring force from the spring 130 forcing the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 against the third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112, the first circumferential part cone- shaped surface 22 may slide and move towards a position that aligns the axis 11 of the quick connect nipple 10 with the axis 11 of the housing. By the shape of the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 and the spring force from the spring 130 forcing the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 against the surface 122, the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 may slide and move towards a position that aligns the axis 11 of the hose connection 30 with the axis 11 of the housing. Hereby the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and the hose connection 30 may align with the axis 11 of the housing 10. For example, if a connection is made with the quick connect nipple 20 that misaligns the axis of the quick connect nipple 20 during the connection, then when a disconnection is made the quick connect nipple 20 aligns with the axis 11 of the housing 10.

According to one embodiment, the housing 10 may comprise a first opening 12, with a first diameter 14, and a second opening 16, with a second diameter 18. The quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may protrude through the first opening 12 and the hose connection 30 may protrude through the second opening 16. In this way, the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may be accessible on one side of the housing 10, and the hose connection 30 may be accessible on an opposite side of the housing 10.

According to one embodiment, the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, the hose connection 30, the first opening 12, the second opening 16, the first centralizing ring 110, and the second centralizing ring 120 are all concentric. All these may share the same central axis 11, as may best be taken from Fig 5. The first, second, and third circumferential part cone-shaped surfaces 22, 32, 112 may also be concentric with all these, and may also share the same central axis 11. They all may share the same axis 11 when aligned, but naturally not when misaligned.

According to one embodiment, the first diameter 14 may be about one and a half to three times a diameter 26 of the protruding quick connect nipple 20, or of the quick connect coupling, passing through the first opening 12. Preferably, the first diameter 14 may be about two times the diameter 26 of the protruding quick connect nipple 20, or of the quick connect coupling, passing through the first opening 12. According to one embodiment, the second diameter 18 may be about one and a half to three times the diameter 36 of the hose connection 30 inside the housing 10 passing through the second opening 16. Preferably, the second diameter 18 may be about two times the diameter 36 of the hose connection 30 inside the housing 10 passing through the second opening 16.

According to one embodiment, a first outer diameter 24 of the circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 may be two to four times an outer diameter 26 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, passing through the first opening 12. Preferably, the first outer diameter 24 of the circumferential part cone- shaped surface 22 may be one to three times the outer diameter 26 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, passing through the first opening 12. Preferably only the outer part, preferably only a sixth, of the circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 may contact the third circumferential part cone-shaped surface 112 of the first guiding ring 110, when the circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 extends from the quick connect nipple (20), or a quick connect coupling.

According to one embodiment, the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 may be snap fitted to the hose connection 30. The second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 may be made out of a different material as the hose connection 30. The second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 may be a separate element in the substantial form of a ring with the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32. This ring may be snap fitted onto and around the hose connection 30.

According to one embodiment, the spring 130 may be entirely within the housing 10, and may act between the housing 10 and the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, or the hose connection 30. One end of the spring 130 may be against a part of the housing 10, and the other end of the spring 130 may be against a part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, or the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22, and provide a spring force forcing them apart. The spring 130 may act between the back of the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and an inside of the housing 10, or a rear sleeve 140. The rear sleeve 140 may be as mentioned herein.

According to one embodiment, the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and the hose connection 30 may be separate elements connectable to each other. The connection of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and the hose connection 30 may preferably be made entirely inside the housing 10. According to one embodiment, the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and the hose connection 30 may be connected to each other by a screw connection. The connection may comprise a sealing element 29, for example an o-ring, between the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and the hose connection 30. The sealing element 29 may seal the fluid flow through the system.

According to one embodiment, the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may be for air. According to one embodiment, the system may be for air or a cooling fluid or a cooling liquid. According to one embodiment the system may be mounted in a rack and providing connection for a cooling fluid.

According to one embodiment, and as illustrated best in Fig 7, the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 may comprise an additional flange 34 extending circumferential and perpendicular to an axis 11 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling. This flange 34 may prevent foreign objects to enter inside the housing 10. This flange 34 may position the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, in an axial position. The flange 34 may start to extend radially from where the surface 122 ends and continue to extend for half the radial distance of the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32, for example about 4 to 7 millimetres.

According to one embodiment, the surface 122 may comprise a rounded corner 122 or a fourth circumferential part cone-shaped surface, for engaging with the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30. The second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 may engage an edge of the housing 10.

According to one embodiment, the system may further comprise a rear sleeve 140 in which the spring 130 is positioned. The rear sleeve 140 may be arranged at least partly cylindrically around the spring, and an end 142 of the rear sleeve 140 may be configured to engage on an opposite side 23 of the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 when the quick connect nipple 20 is pushed inwards into the housing 10. An opposite end of the rear sleeve may be configures to engage an inside of the housing 10. Thus, when the nipple 20 in Fig 5 is pushed towards the right, then the rear sleeve 140 may stop the nipple when the nipple 20 engages the rear sleeve. In this way, even if the system is assembled and kept together by the snap fit, an outer force on the nipple can be taken up by the system without damaging the system. When a force pushes on the quick connect nipple 20 harder than the spring force of the spring 130, then the end 142 of the rear sleeve 140 may contact directly on the opposite side 23 of the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling. When the push force is released, or the no force is acting on the nipple, then the quick connect nipple 20 re-centres, aligns, itself with respect to the housing 10. The axis of the nipple becomes concentric with the axis 11 of the housing. According to one embodiment, the connection, for example the screw connection, between the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, and the hose connection 30 fits inside the spring 130. In this regard, please see Fig 5.

According to one embodiment, the first centralizing ring 110 may be a separate part of the housing 30 and made out of thermoplastic polyethylene, preferably ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (LIHMWPE, LIHMW) LIHPE. According to one embodiment, the second centralizing ring 120 may be an integral part of the housing 30 and may be made out of metal. The metal may be steel. According to one embodiment, the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may be an integral part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, respectively, and may be made out of metal, for example steel. According to one embodiment, the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 may be a separate part of the hose connection 30 and made out of thermoplastic polyethylene, preferably ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (LIHMWPE, LIHMW) LIHPE.

According to one embodiment, the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may be a separate part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, respectively, and may be made out of thermoplastic polyethylene, preferably ultra- high-molecular-weight polyethylene, LIHMWPE. The first circumferential part cone- shaped surface 22 may be part of a separate ring that is clamped directly between a radial protrusion of the quick connect nipple 20, or of the quick connect coupling, and an axial end of the hose connection 30. Fig 7 illustrates the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 as an integral part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, on the lower side. Fig 7 illustrates the first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 as a separate part of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, on the upper side in Fig 7.

According to one embodiment, at least one of the first centralizing ring 110 and the second centralizing ring 120 is an integral part of the housing 10. A surface of the housing 10 may act as the first centralizing ring 110 and/or the second centralizing ring 120.

According to one embodiment, the hose connection 30 may hold a valve spring 27 acting on a valve element 28 of the quick connect nipple 20. The valve spring 27 may be acting between, forcing apart, the valve element 28 and the hose connection 30.

According to one embodiment, a method for centralizing a quick connect nipple or coupling according to the system according to any one of the preceding embodiments is disclosed. The spring 130 forces the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, to align with the first centralizing ring 110 and the centralizing ring 120. This way of centralizing, using two centralizing rings achieves a better and more reliable alignment of the nipple within the housing. The double recentralizing better aligns and re-centres the nipple so that the quick connect nipple 20 comes back to the central axis 11 after being misaligned or moved. According to one embodiment, any embodiment of the system disclosed herein may be used for cooling computer equipment.

According to one embodiment, a method of assembling the system according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein is disclosed. The method comprises 610 snap-fitting the second circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 of the hose connection 30 to the hose connection 30 as a step for assembling the system. In this way an easy, quick, and reliable assembly is established, that also allows pressure testing the quick connect nipple before the system is finally assembled. In a similar way, or alternatively, the first circumferential part cone- shaped surface 22 of the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, may be fitted, or snap-fitted, to the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, respectively, as a step for assembling the system according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein is disclosed. This may be done as a first initial step. The first circumferential part cone-shaped surface 22 may be part of a separate ring that is clamped directly between a radial protrusion of the quick connect nipple 20, or of the quick connect coupling, and an axial end of the hose connection 30.

According to one embodiment, the step of snap-fitting the circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 to the hose connection 30 may be the last step in the method of assembling and no other means are used to attach the circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 to the hose connection 30. No other means may be used for holding and positioning the circumferential part cone-shaped surface 32 to the hose connection 30. The step of snap-fitting the circumferential wedge-shaped surface 32 to the hose connection 30 may be done after connecting the quick connect nipple 20, or the quick connect coupling, with the hose connection 30. According to one embodiment, the method of assembling the system may further comprise pressing, snap-fitting, the first centralizing ring 110 into the housing 10, no other means may be used for holding and positioning the first centralizing ring 110.

According to one embodiment, the method of assembling the system may further comprise 620 assembling, the quick connect nipple 20, or a quick connect coupling, with the hose connection 30, and 630 pressure test it before inserting it into the housing (30). For example, the quick connect nipple 20 may be screw connected with the hose connection 30, and then a pressure test of the nipple and hose connection can be made. Thereafter they both can be assembled into the housing 10. This ensures high quality and reliability, for example no leakage.

According to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, a technical effect is that the spring force acts onto the two circumferential part cone-shaped surfaces and this aligns the nipple in the housing after having been misaligned. The two circumferential part cone-shaped surfaces allow for a better, larger and easier and less friction, movement of the nipple to re-center after having taken up any misalignment between the nipple 20 and an external coupling. Thus, when a new connection is to be made the nipple 20 is aligned with the housing, but can move, is floating, to take up any misalignment during the connection process.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using the adapters and performing the methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

List of elements

10 housing

12 first opening

14 first diameter

16 second opening

18 second diameter

20 quick connect nipple or a quick connect coupling

22 first circumferential part cone-shaped surface

23 opposite side

24 first outer diameter

26 outer diameter of nipple

27 valve spring

28 valve element

29 sealing elment

30 hose connection

32 second circumferential part cone-shaped surface

34 additional flange

36 diameter of the hose connection

110 first centralizing ring

112 third circumferential part cone-shaped surface

120 second centralizing ring

122 surface

140 rear sleeve

142 end of rear sleeve

130 spring

610 to 630 method steps