The invention relatβa to a muffled hose coupling and to a hose-head for improving hoae couplinga. The hoae coupling according to the in¬ vention can be advantageoualy uaed with equipments serving for water aupply, mechanic irrigation planta and on any other fields of application, where hose tracts are to be interconnected or coupl¬ ed to stiff pipe-ends in a releasable manner.,

It has been tried to couple hoae-ends in a releasable manner so, that couplings of the stiff pipe-ends ware formed with a short pipe stub and instead of the stiff pipetract of the pipe stubs hose tracts were connected thereto i.e. hose tracts were inserted between two pipe tracts having been provided,with a coupling flange. Hose end and pipe stub were naturally not interconnected by using the solutions known from stiff pipes, but so that the hose end was pulled onto the pipe stub and fixed thereto by means of a metal wire, and SK band, and ABA band with screw element in an unreleasable or slowly releasable manner. Although, with these solu¬ tions the role of pipe stubs is changing to a cer¬ tain extent but coupling of the coupling flanges is performed in the same manner. As joining of said stiff pipe-coupling and hose end is performed with a permanent character, stiff coupling remains a part of the hose even in course of winding. So e.g. a stiff coupling of the size of 300 to 500 mm results in such an unevennesa on the hose coil, that winding of further hose tracts becomes simply impossible. 45031-4120/KS

Due to these deficiencies this combined mode of coup¬ ling cannot be suitably applied for large diameter hoses being usual in water supply. under an effective hose coupling a special coupling is meant which is able - in compliance with the purpose set - to catch and loosen creaseably flexible hoae ends in a safe manner so, that this clamping and loosening manipulation could be optio¬ nally repeated. Such a solution is specified in the Hunga¬ rian Patent HU-PS 159,325; with this solution the pro¬ files serving for coupling are formed with a smooth pipe end, while the hose ends pulled thereon are en¬ closed with a strap and fixed to the pipewall by means of peripherical coupling elements. Although this solu¬ tion is partly meeting requirements, development of water-management brought hoses with larger diameter and higher loadability along; with these hoses, .under increased load slip under the straps often occurs re- suiting in leakage along the periphery.

In the Hungarian Patent HU-PS 168,242 a solution is described, with which stiff coupling pro¬ files are formed with conical pipe-ends, while the hose ends pulled thereon are clamped to the conical surface by means of an utmost rigid pressure ring and said pressure ring is fixed with coupling elements in the direction of the generatrix. This rigid hose coupling meets far better requirements relating to large-diameter hoses and higher loadability, due to its formation it is suprisingly light, however, it is still heavier and more voluminous, than demanded, with a special regard to manpower shortage,

With theses rigid couplinga the main require¬ ment liea in proper retentivity, to achieve proper technical operation, thia requirement i3 to be met at

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all means. Simultaneously, their disadvantageous fea¬ ture results from this demand, namely considering required retentivity and due to increased demanda relating to larger dia etera and increaaed presaure, productional weight is propotrtionally increaaing. In relation to operation and manipulation, thia in¬ crement of weight means that couplings lying in the range between 400 and 600 mm are already surpassing the limits of "manual portability". Enlargement of field of application of hoaea is, accordingly, restricted by the fact that when in¬ tending to form lines of shorter, longer hose tracts, there are no stiff-walled couplings (with a rigid framework) available, clamping the free hose end with a safe bond, operating without leakage or flow and which - compared to known solutions - weighs less and is easily portable and in case of necessity it can be provided with a closing organ.

The task of present invention is to meet these requirements.

The aim of the invention is partly to elimi¬ nate deficienciea of known rigid hose couplings, part¬ ly to develop rigid hose couplings, which are construct¬ ed so that due to their lightweight they could be ea- sily carried by hand, interconnection could be perform¬ ed easily and with a satisfactory safety and in case of necessity the couplings could be provided with a closing organ.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a uff- led hose coupling and hose-head, in particular to equip¬ ments belonging to the scope of water management, me¬ chanical irrigation plants and other equipments of this type.

The invention is based on the recognition, in so far as productional weight of rigid couplings

(increasing parallel with increased demand of loada¬ bility) may be reduced, if both the rigid coupling organs and flexible hose ends are provided with slip- -preventing expedient coun er-suppor organs. The aim of the invention is achieved by using a coupling with outer and inner muffle. The outer diameter of the inner muffle is equal to - or approxi¬ mately equal to - the inner diameter of the used hoae (hoae-head). On the outer aurface of the inner muffle circular receaaes or protuberancea or any other auitably ahaped (counter-supporting) organs are to be found for clamping the hose, onto which the hose can be pulled. To protect the hose, these organs are made necessarily of some resilient material. The inner diameter of the outer muffle is identical to - or approximately iden¬ tical to - the outer diameter of the hose (hose-head) used. Similarly to the inner muffle, the inner surface is formed with expedient hose-clamping (counter-support¬ ing) means. In respect to peripherical continuity, the outer muffle can be designed with an open or closed profile. The outer muffle with the open profile forms a continuous, closed unit with a circular profile with the articulated organ(s) and/or coupling elemen (s) having been arranged along its periphery. The essence of the coupling according to the invention lies in that it has an inner muffle with a diameter, which is less, than that of the coupling hose end i.e. hoae-head, and an outer muffle, the diameter of which being larger, than that of the connecting hoae; on the inner muffle and/or on the outer muffle hose-

-clamping organ(s) is (are) arranged, in case of necessi ty in the outer muffle or in the inner muffle closing organ(s) is (are) arranged.

In addition to the most general solution of coupling further embodiments are possible, so e.g.

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for connecting two hose-ends the coupling is provided with one inner muffle and two outer muffles or with two inner muffles and one outer muffle. For clamping the hose-end the coupling includes an inner muffle forming a part of the pipetract of the hose-tract, representing a further possible embodiment.

With an other preferred embodiment of the invention the outer muffle ia made of the material of the hose, as well as it is provided with a hose-clamp- ing organ co-operating with the muffle-insert having been arranged in the marginal recess of -the outer muffle. With a further preferred embodiment the inner and/or outer muffle of the coupling according to the invention is provided with a plurality of circular- ly arranged organs for clamping one single hose-end i.e. hose-head.

With another preferred embodiment of the invention the inner muffle of the coupling is provided with continuously or properly distributed muffle support- ing organ(s) and in case of necessity one or more closing organs.

The essence of the hose-head according to the invention lies in that it has a counter-support organ preferably made of the material of the hose wall or any other suitable material, provided with a mobile or stable fold or any other suitably formed house for receiving the insert.

With a further possible embodiment of the coupling according to the invention one or more counter- -supports are provided with a wedge-ahaped, oval or circular cross-section emerging on both sides from the plane of the base wall of the hose-head.

The invention may be realized so that the house receiving the insert has several counter-support organs of identical material and shape and/or different

OMPI

formation and material.

In the house of the hose-head receiving the insert there is an ^' insert arranged, realized with endless solid or wire-like structure or as the co bi- nation thereof, ensuring flexibility with a large arc and changeable, if necessary.

The invention will be described in details by means of some preferred embodiments serving as examples, by the aid of the drawings enclosed, wherein figure 1 is a possible embodiment of the hose-coupling and the hose-head, shown in a sectional view; figure 2 is the sectional view of a hose-coupling having been provided with one inner and two outer muffles ; figure 3 is the sectional view of the hose-coupling wi two inner and one outer muffle; figure 4 is the embodiment of the hose-coupling accord ing to the invention consisting of the rigid pipe-tract and the flexible hose material, shown in section; figure 5 is also showing a hose coupling with one inne and two outer muffles.

With the embodiment shown in figure 1 the end of the inner muffle 1 and the outer muffle 2 are provi- ded with the hose-clamping organs 3 and 4. On the outer muffle the coupling elements 5 are arranged.

When performing connection by using this coupling, the hose-head 12 according to figure 1 is pulled onto the inner muffle 1, while the counter-suppo organ 14 is fitted into the hose-clamping organ 3. This operation is repeated with the hose-head on the other end of the inner muffle 1. Thereafter the outer muffle 2 is placed onto the inner muffle 1 so, that the hose- -clamping organs 4 should fit to the counter-support organs 14; after having compressed surfaces by means

of the coupling elements 5 coupling is performed.

With the embodiment to be seen in figure 2 the inner muffle 1 of the coupling is provided with the muffle carrying organ 10, to which the outer muffles 2 are fitted.

With the embodiment according to figure 3 the outer muffle 2 of the coupling is provided with the muffle carrying organ 11, to which the inner muffles 1 are fitted. With the embodiment seen in figure 4 the inner muffle 1 is formed of the pipe-tract 6. The outer muffle 2 is made of the material of the hose and in the marginal recess 8 the muf le-insert 9 is to be found. With the embodiment according to figure 5 the outer muffle 2a of the coupling is provided with the axial coupling elements formed with a closed pro¬ file; said coupling elements are fixing the muffle in an axial direction, thus ensuring the connection. The muffle 2b of the coupling is formed with an open profile and it is provided with peripherical twin coupling elements; the coupling elements are simul¬ taneously or subsequently tightened, in such a manner connection in peripherical direction is also performed. Reference numbers in figures 1 to 5 refer

- according to sense - to identical organs.

Advantages of the coupling according to the invention can be summarized, as follows:

Profilea are formed of a synthetic material, metal casting or thin-walled pipes made of sheet ma¬ terial; in relation to their diameters their unit weight is rather low; even with diameter of 300 to 500 mm easily manageable couplings are obtained. Re¬ sulting from the structural design of the couplings, material requirement related to diameter, is low, in-

volving considerable advantages in production costs. The coupling serves in particular for connecting ho- seΞj however., solid pipes can be suitably connected therewith. By virtue of their structural design, in a stable built-in position they can be easily handled, coupling organs can be connected and disconnected with¬ out difficulty.

When performing connection of hoses with the couplings according to the invention, connection can be performed easily, in a short time and safely even along a large periphery.

A further advantageous feature of the hose- -head according to the invention lies in that by ex¬ changing the inserts in the house height of the counter- -support organ can be also changed. On the creaseably flexible hoses the house receiving the inserts can be formed by simply folding back the hose-wall, enabling the local modification of the hoae length and elimina¬ tion of damaged hoae parts. The hose-head according to the invention promotes assembly, enables more safe connection, simultaneously hose ends can be wound into nearly even coils.