US 12,092,245 B2Granted

Lockable swivel fitting assembly

AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation

InventorsZackary Meisner, Andrew Woods

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Abstract

A swivel fitting assembly includes a female body providing a first connection end portion, and a male fitting body providing a second connection end portion. The male body and the female body are operatively coupled together to form a fluid passage between the first and second connection end portions, and are configured to permit relative rotation of the bodies relative to each other. A swivel lock mechanism is provided to rotationally lock or release the male body relative to the female body in response to a fluid pressure level in the fitting. The swivel lock includes a collar that transitions to a lock state and holds the male body when fluid pressure is at or above a predefined level. The collar transitions to a release state to enable relative rotation of the bodies when the pressure is below the predefined level.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A swivel fitting assembly, comprising:

a female body providing a first connection end portion and a receiving end portion opposite the first connection end portion;
a male fitting body providing a second connection end portion and a stud end portion opposite the second connection end portion, the stud end portion being arranged in the female receiving end portion to rotatably support the female body and form a fluid passage between the first connection end portion and the second connection end portion;
a swivel lock configured to rotationally lock or release the male fitting body relative to the female body, the swivel lock comprising at least one collar arranged radially between the stud end portion and the female receiving end portion, the at least one collar being configured to transition between a lock state and a release state in response to fluid pressure in the fluid passage, such that fluid pressure in the fluid passage that meets or exceeds a predefined level generates a force that transitions the at least one collar to the lock state in which the at least one collar engages against the stud end portion of the male fitting body and generates a compressive force that rotationally locks the male fitting body relative to the female body, and such that fluid pressure in the fluid passage that is below the predefined level, or the absence of fluid pressure, enables the at least one collar to transition to the release state in which the male fitting body and the female body are rotatable relative to each other.

A swivel fitting assembly comprising:

a fitting body having a threaded end opposite a stud end, the stud end of the fitting body rotatably supporting a push to connect fitting, the stud end having a male portion positioned within a female portion of the push to connect fitting;
an annular seal positioned on an exterior cylindrical surface of the male portion of the stud end and sealing against an interior cylindrical surface of the female portion of the push to connect fitting;
a retaining mechanism comprising a first collar member attached to the interior cylindrical surface of the female portion of the push to connect fitting and a second collar member positioned about the exterior cylindrical surface of the male portion of the stud end of the fitting body and having a radially inward extending portion extending partially into a slot in the exterior cylindrical surface of the male portion of the stud end;
wherein the second collar being configured to transition between a lock state and a release state in response to fluid pressure in the fluid passage, such that fluid pressure in the fluid passage that meets or exceeds a predefined level generates a force that transitions the second collar to the lock state in which the second collar engages against the stud end portion of the male fitting body and generates a compressive force that rotationally locks the male fitting body relative to the female body, and such that fluid pressure in the fluid passage that is below the predefined level, or the absence of fluid pressure, enables the second collar to transition to the release state in which the male fitting body and the female body are rotatable relative to each other;
wherein the retaining mechanism retains the push to connect fitting on the fitting body in a manner allowing the push to connect fitting to rotate about an axis of the fitting body.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/056,850Filed 18 Nov 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Dec 2021
Published: US 2023/0175620 A18 Jun 2023
Granted: 17 Sep 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16L 27/0845
The joint elements being bends: forming an angle of 90 degrees
F16L 37/144
Where the securing element is inserted tangentially: the securing element being U-shaped
F16L 37/088
Combined with automatic locking: by means of a split elastic ring
F16L 37/092
Combined with automatic locking: by means of elements wedged between the pipe and the frusto-conical surface of the body of the connector