Quick-release connecting device for flanged hydraulic components

A quick-release connection device for hydraulic components provided with mating terminal flanges, comprising a plurality of tightening clamps which can be disposed to straddle a pair of mating flanges on the components to be connected, a plurality of connection rods hinged at their ends to respective pairs of clamps in such a manner as to form an articulated succession of clamps which can be disposed about said mating flanges in the form of a ring provided with an aperture between two end clamps of said succession, a further tightening rod hinged to one of said end clamps, a lever hinged to the other of said end clamps, releasable means for coupling said tightening rod to said lever for completing said ring about said mating flanges, means for controlling the movement of said tightening rod between a position in which the ring is open and in which the rod is released from said lever and is rotated towards the outside of the ring relative to the line joining the point at which said tightening rod engages with said lever and the point at which said lever is hinged to the relative clamp, and a position in which the ring is closed and tightened and in which said tightening rod is coupled to said lever and is rotated towards the inside of the ring relative to said joining line, and resilient means associated with said coupling means in such a manner as to favour the maintaining of said closed position as determined by said tightening rod while the axis of this latter is located inwards of said joining line, but to force it to move rapidly into its opening position when the axis of said tightening rod is moved outwards beyond said joining line.