RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Australian Patent No. 2014200983, the contents of which are incorporated in entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for use in retarding fluid flow particularly, but not exclusively, device in the form of a baffle ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A baffle ball is used to restrict flow of liquid in a tank, in order to minimise the momentum effect of fluid sloshing from one side of the tank to the other in an unrestricted manner.

[0004] A known baffle ball is formed of two halves that are snap fit together. Each half has a hemispherical shell with a circular mating band around a base of each shell. The bands extend circumferentially and transverse to an axis of each shell so as to present a facing side and an opposite side. The facing sides of the bands meet to form a circumferential lateral flange when connected together.

[0005] A series of axially extending resilient lugs project from the facing side of each band and those lugs are arranged to be received in corresponding through holes formed in the other band. Each lug has a lateral hook arranged to be pressed through a respective hole to snap into an engaged condition on the opposite side of the associated flange. [0006] The baffle ball is generally assembled by hand and, as a result, the resilient bias offered by the lugs as they are pushed through the holes needs to be sufficient low to allow for relatively easy assembly. As such, the material of the lugs may need to be reduced, in order to allow for easy connection of the shells. However, if the lugs are made too flexible, the lugs tend to pull out of the holes under load.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention seeks to provide an alternative form of baffle device that can be simply and quickly assembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a device formed of two components that are fixed together to form structure to retard the flow of fluid through the device, including a connector formed of a latch and a female coupling associated with each component, wherein the connector includes a one way lock that is engaged by a two stage process of advancing the latch and coupling together and then rotating the components to slide the latch through an entry slot and into the one way lock of the female coupling, wherein the latch includes an enlarged head to resist pull-out in a direction transverse of the slot.

[0009] In one embodiment, the latch and coupling are provided on flanges that project laterally from each component, the flanges fitting together when the components are connected to allow transfer of loads between the components.

[0010] In one embodiment, the female coupling includes a clip that receives and holds the latch before the latch is moved into the lock.

[0011] In one embodiment, the clip includes resilient fingers that hold the head of the latch in the catch.

[0012] In one embodiment, a gap between the fingers defines the entry slot that allows the latch to move from the clip into the one way lock.

[0013] In one embodiment, the fingers of the clip function as part of the one way lock by flexing to allow the latch to pass through the slot and then retracting to secure the latch in the lock.

[0014] In one embodiment, the flanges are formed about a peripheral base of each component.

[0015] In one embodiment, the components are formed of hemispherical shells and the flanges project from a peripheral band that extends around the base of each shell.

[0016] In one embodiment, the slot of the female coupling extends in a circumferential direction, relative to the associated base.

[0017] In one embodiment, a plurality of flanges and connectors are provided around the circumference of the shell bases and the couplings are engaged by advancing each component in an axial direction for initial engagement of the latches into the respective female couplings, followed by the rotational movement of the components, in order to lock the shells together.

[0018] In one embodiment, each latch and female coupling is integrally moulded with the associated component.

[0019] In one embodiment, the device is in the form of a baffle ball.

[0020] In another aspect, there is provided a component for the device, as described above, including a band around a peripheral base and one of the latch or female coupling projecting from the band to engage with a corresponding latch or female coupling on another component.

[0021] In one embodiment, the component includes a hemispherical shell and a plurality of female couplings and latches arranged about the circumference of the band.

[0022] In one embodiment, the latches and couplings are integrally formed with flanges that project laterally of the band, wherein the flanges are arranged to fit with corresponding flanges on the other component, for transmission of forces between the components through the flanges and bands.

[0023] In one embodiment, the slot of each female coupling extends in a circumferential direction, around the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a baffle device in an open position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the baffle device in a closed position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a female coupling used to fix components of the device together;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a latch;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a connector, with the latch and female coupling connected together in an open position; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the connector in a closed position; Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the components; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of two of the components being fitted together. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Throughout the following detailed description, like parts will be denoted with like reference numerals.

[0026] Referring firstly to Figure 1, a device 1 is shown in the form of a baffle ball 2. The ball 2 is formed of two interchangeable components 3. Each component 3 has a hemispherical shell 4 and an annular band 5. The shells 4 provide structure to retard fluid flow through the device 1.

[0027] The band 5 projects radially, in a transverse direction "T" relative to the shell 4, and extends circumferentially around a base 6 of each component 3. Each band 5 has laterally projecting flanges 7 at regular intervals that include connectors 8 used to connect the components 3 together. In Figure 1, the connectors 8 are in a connected but open position, where the flanges 7 associated with each shell 4 are offset.

[0028] In Figure 2, each component 3 has been rotated about a common axis 9, as indicated by arrows 28, until the flanges 7 of each band 5 align and the connectors 8 snap into a closed position, where the components 3 are locked together.

[0029] With reference to Figure 3, a female coupling 10 of one of the connectors 8 is illustrated as including a clip 11 and a one way lock 12 integrally formed with the flange 7. The clip 11 has an aperture 13 that extends in an axial direction "A", transversely of the band 5, from a facing side 14 of the band 5, through to an opposite side 15. [0030] The aperture 13 has an enlarged main section 16 that tapers toward opposed fingers 17. The fingers 17 are separated by a gap that defines an entry slot 18. The fingers 17 are resilient to allow a degree of flexing toward and away from each other.

[0031] The slot 18 opens into the lock 12 of the female part 10. The lock 12 includes a dock section 19 with surrounding deck 20. The lock 12 also communicates with side cavities 21 that accommodate movement of the fingers 17 when the fingers 17 are flexed apart.

[0032] Referring now to Figure 4, a latch 22 of the connector 8 is shown projecting from the associated flange 7. The latch 22 includes a rigid stem 23, axially extending neck 24 and sideward projecting head 25, with a tapered top 26. The flange 7 has a facing side 14 and an opposite side 15. An axially extending rib 27 connects between the shell 4 and the flange 7 to provide reinforcement to the flange 7 and to act as a nesting stop, when stacking the components together, to prevent the shells from binding to each other in an unassembled state.

[0033] Figure 5, illustrates a first step of a two stage process for connecting the coupling 10 and the latch 22. The head 25 of the latch 22 has been inserted in the axial direction "A", through the clip 11 from the facing side 14 of the associated flange 7 to an opposite side 15. The tapered top 26 of the head 25 allows for easy insertion. During insertion, the head 25 marginally expands the fingers 17 of the clip 11. After insertion, the fingers 17 close back together so that the head 25 is lightly captured in the clip 11.

[0034] The same action occurs simultaneously around the band 5 so that the components 3 can be quickly and easily connected.

[0035] With reference now to Figure 6, the two components 3 have been rotated relative to each other in order for the neck 24 of the latch 22 to be moved in a direction "F", to the left as viewed, so that the fingers 17 are firstly expanded into the cavities 21 and then return to their original position as the neck 24 locates in the dock section 19. The head 25 has an width dimension and length dimension greater than the width dimension and length dimension of the dock section 19 so that the head 25 abuts the deck 20 around the dock section 19 and is prevented from pull-out through the lock 12 as a result.

[0036] The latch 22 is thereby secured in the female coupling 10 against movement in the reverse of axial direction "A". With the connector 8, there are no moving or flexible parts that might otherwise be subject to deflection and failure under transverse load. Instead, the latch 22 is rigid and robust so that substantial loads can be transferred directly to the deck 20, back along "A", for distribution through the connector 8 and into the associated band 5.

[0037] Reverse movement of the latch 22 out of the dock 19, in a direction indicated by arrow "R" is resisted by engagement of the fingers 17 with the neck 24. If the neck 24 is forced back toward the clip 11, the fingers 17 close together further to entirely shut off the slot 18. As such, the female coupling 10 provides the one-way locking function of the connector 8 once the male part 22 is moved through the slot 18, past the clip 11 and secured in the lock 12.

[0038] Referring now to Figure 7, one of the components 3 is shown as being formed of a one piece moulding, including a series of three couplings 10 and three latches 22 arrayed around the peripheral band 5. To fix two identical components 3 together, to form the ball

2 of Figures 1 and 2, latches 22 of each component 3 need to be aligned with associated female couplings 10 on a second component 3, as shown in Figure 8. The components 3 are then moved together, as indicated by arrows 29, in order for the latches 22 to slot into the couplings 10 so that the enlarged head 25 of each latch 22 is held in the respective clip 11, in the manner described above. This means that during the first stage of connection, a person assembling the ball 2 will be able to reposition their hands without the components

3 separating, before the parts 10, 22 are rotated in the second stage, into the locked condition.

[0039] Since the ball 2 is formed of identical, hemispherical components 3, the individual components 3 can be readily stacked inside each other, which provides minimum space requirements, suitable for shipping and transit, to reduce freight costs. The components 2 can then be assembled into the full volume ball 2 on site, as required.

[0040] As may be appreciated, during use, most loads applied to the ball 2 will be transferred through the shells 4 to the bands 5 in an axial direction, transverse to the bands 5. As such, it is important that the latches 22 resist pull-out under load, in order to allow the connectors 8 to reliable transfer the loads between the shells 4. The connectors 8 described above are suitable for that purpose, especially as the primary holding function is provided by an enlarged head 25 of the latch 22 being held in the lock 12, to resist high pull-out loads. Nevertheless, the lock 12 is easily engaged by simply sliding the latch 22 laterally and circumferentially through the entry slot 18 between the fingers 17. The force needed to engage the lock 12 is minimal compared to the holding capacity of the lock 12. As such, with the present invention, the material thickness of the latch 22 does not need to be compromised in order to allow for easy connection of the components 3 by hand, as compared with the prior art where the material thickness of the lugs would be reduced to allow for easier hand assembly.

[0041] It should also be appreciated, as mentioned above, that any transverse forces applied to the latch 22 are transferred through the rigid head 25 of the latch 22 so as to be delivered directly to the deck 20 of the female coupling 10. As such, there are no moving parts in the connector 8 that are subject to pull out forces or that are placed under tensional forces under normal use, as compared to the prior art baffle ball, where the resilient clips were prone to flexing under load and pull-out. This means the ball 1 will not be subject to failure in the same manner as the prior art baffle ball.

[0042] With prior art baffle balls, additional material would regularly be used to reinforce the shells and bands in order to provide greater rigidity and direct load transfer between the halves, to reduce loading on the lugs, which were prone to pull-out. Since the connectors 8 of the present invention are able to transfer comparatively greater loads, less reinforcing material is needed, so the ball 2 can be made lighter, to provide both reduced material costs as well as transport savings.

[0043] The embodiment has been described above with particular reference to a baffle ball 2. However, the invention has application to any other type of baffle device that is formed of interconnected components and need not be limited to the specific form of a ball.

LIST OF PARTS

1. Device

2. Baffle ball

3. Component

4. Shell

5. Band

6. Base

7. Flange

8. Connector

9. Axis

10. Female coupling

11. Clip

12. Lock

13. Aperture

14. Facing side

15. Opposite side

16. Main section

17. Fingers

18. Slot

19. Dock section

20. Deck

21. Cavities

22. Latch

23. Stem

24. Neck

25. Head

26. Top

27. Rib

28. Arrow

29. Arrow