# US 2019/0316718 A1 · Coupling element and coupling device comprising this coupling element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0316718 A1 - Document ID: US20190316718A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/369,213 - Filed: 2019-03-29 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-12 - Assignees: Staubli Faverges - Applicants: Staubli Faverges - Inventors: Alain-Christophe TIBERGHIEN; Christophe DURIEUX; Romain MAYER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190316718A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/34: at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve being telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall - F16L 29/04: with a cut-off device in each of the two pipe ends, the cut-off devices being automatically opened when the coupling is applied - F16L 37/23: by means of balls - F16L 37/33: the lift valves being of the ball type - F16L 37/407: the lift valve being of the ball type - Y10T 137/87957: Valves actuate each other - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fluid coupling element includes: a body comprising a rear chamber and an intermediate chamber; a main valve movable to close a main passage between the rear and intermediate chambers; a forward valve movable to close a front orifice of the inner pipe under the action of a first spring a safety valve movable to close a secondary passage through the main valve between the rear and intermediate chambers. During coupling with a complementary coupling element, the forward valve moves a plunger that opens the safety valve before the main valve is opened. The coupling element includes a second spring, pushing the plunger back toward a forward position in which the main valve and the safety valve are closed, and the plunger abuts forwardly against the main valve or against the safety valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid coupling element, comprising: a body that delimits an inner pipe extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner pipe comprising a rear chamber and an intermediate chamber, in which a front orifice of the inner pipe emerges; a main valve translatable in the rear chamber between a closed position, in which the main valve abuts forwardly against the body, and an open position in which a main passage is arranged between the main valve and the body for the fluid communication between the rear chamber and the intermediate chamber; a forward valve, translatable in the intermediate chamber between a closed position and an open position of the front orifice, the forward valve being pushed back toward the closed position by a first spring; a safety valve, translatable between an open position of a secondary passage arranged through the main valve between the rear chamber and the intermediate chamber and a closed position of the secondary passage, in which the safety valve abuts forwardly against the main valve; a plunger movable in the body between a forward position and a withdrawn position, the plunger being movable relative to the safety valve along the longitudinal axis; the coupling element being arranged such that, during coupling with a complementary coupling element during which the forward valve is moved toward its open position of the front orifice, the forward valve comes into contact with the plunger and moves the plunger toward the withdrawn position, the plunger coming into contact with the safety valve and moving it into the open position of the secondary passage before the main valve is moved toward its open position; wherein the coupling element includes a second spring, arranged in the intermediate chamber bearing on the body and on a bearing part of the plunger and pushing the plunger back toward the forward position, and wherein, in the forward position of the plunger, the main valve and the safety valve are in the closed position, and the plunger abuts forwardly against the main valve or against the safety valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein, in the forward position, the plunger abuts forwardly against the main valve and in that the coupling element includes a third spring that returns the safety valve into its closed position of the secondary passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The coupling element of claim 2, wherein, in that the third spring is inserted between the safety valve and the main valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The coupling element of claim 2, wherein the plunger abuts forwardly against the main valve by means of at least one ball housed in a longitudinal slot of the main valve and in a peripheral groove of the plunger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein, in the forward position, the plunger abuts forwardly against the safety valve and in that a forward rod of the safety valve, protruding in front of the main valve, is engaged in the plunger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the coupling element is arranged such that, during coupling with a complementary coupling element, the plunger or the safety valve comes into contact with the main valve to move the main valve from its closed position toward its open position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the first spring is arranged bearing on the forward valve and on the bearing part of the plunger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The coupling element of claim 7, wherein the first spring and the second spring are helical compression springs, the turns of which are aligned along the longitudinal axis and arranged in the outer radial position in the inner pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the return force exerted by the second spring when the plunger is in the forward position is greater than the return force exerted by the first spring when the forward valve and the main valve are in the open position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the bearing part of the plunger is suitable for radially guiding the plunger inside the body in its movement between the forward position and the withdrawn position, the bearing part of the plunger being placed substantially in the middle of the free length of the plunger when the safety valve is in the open position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein, in the open position and in the closed position of the front orifice, the forward valve cooperates with the body or with an element secured to the body with a radial play that is smaller than a radial play between the body, respectively the element secured to the body, and the forward valve in an intermediate position of the forward valve between the closed position and the open position of the front orifice ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the coupling element includes a rear part arranged in the rear chamber and radially guiding the main valve, the rear part forming a rear stop to the movement of the main valve in the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the forward valve is able to come into contact with the plunger only in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the bearing part is a part separate from the plunger that is kept abutting against the plunger by the second spring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A coupling device including a male coupling element and a female coupling element with complementary shapes and able to fit in one another to guarantee a fluid connection of an inner pipe of the male element with an inner pipe of the female element, wherein at least one of the male and female coupling devices is according to claim 1, and wherein the sum of: the distance along the longitudinal axis between the forward valve in the closed position of the front orifice and the plunger in the forward position, and the distance along the longitudinal axis between the plunger in the forward position and the safety valve in the closed position, is greater than the opening travel of the forward valve for the fluid communication between the inner pipe of the male element and the inner pipe of female element.