Disconnect tool for a spring-lock® connector

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention is directed to couplings for joining tubes, conduit and pipe that transport fluids, and more particularly to the tools to disconnect quick type couplings that lock with a circular spring.

#2. Description of the Art

#The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.

#The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the disconnect tool of this invention positioned around a tubular conduit having a spring-lock® connector coupling, wherein the tool is in a position for decoupling the two fittings of the coupling;

#Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the disconnect tool of this invention has a pair of fixtures A placed around a tubular conduit coupling C used to connect a tubular pipe or conduit 50 together. The coupling has a first fitting 52 with a cup shaped cage 58 and a second fitting 54 used to connect the two ends of the tubular conduit. The pair of fixtures include a first fixture 20a and a corresponding second fixture 20b which are connected together with a hinge pivot pin 25 so that the fixtures can be rotated apart about a pivotal axis P and positioned on both sides of the second fitting 54. A first hinge part 24a is attached to first fixture 20a and a second hinge part 24b is attached to second fixture 20b. A pair of handles H each have a shaft 40a, 40b that extend from the fixture 20a, 20b for moving the fixtures parallel to a conduit centerline CL along second fixture 54 so that cage 58 is placed in cage recesses 32a and 32b of the fixtures. The pair of handles have lever arms 42a and 42b extending from one end of shafts 40a and 40b respectively. By rotating the lever arms to turn the shafts inside the fixtures, the fittings 52 and 54 can be unlocked and moved along the conduit centerline with respect to one another. The result being the tubular conduit can be disconnected at the fittings by the disconnect tool of this invention without damage to the fittings or the tubular conduit. Various sizes of fixtures can be made to correspond with the different sizes of couplings. Further details of the disconnect tool are discussed in the following sections.

#A side view of the pair of fixtures A of the disconnect tool placed around coupling C is illustrated in FIG. 2. A fixture 20a is attached to a hinge 24a which allows the fixture to rotate about pivotal axis P—P in a plane perpendicular to tubular axis or centerline CL of the tubular conduit 50. The initial position of cage 58 of the coupling is axially displaced from fixture 20a. A shaft 40a of the handles extends from the fixture with a lever arm 42a of the handles at the remote outer end of the shaft from the fixture. The disconnect tool of FIG. 2 is shown in an initial position place around the coupling and is further displaced and the handles operated to assist in disconnecting the coupling.

#An integral part of this invention is the use of Spring-Locke connecting fittings for connecting together the ends of a tubular pipe or conduit. This connector or coupling is of the type of connectors commonly known as “quick-connect tubular couplings”. To better explain how the disconnect tool works with the coupling, a discussion of the details of the coupling is set forth by referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The tubular conduit 50 to be connected has a first cylindrical fitting 52 affixed to one tubular end and a second cylindrical fitting 54 affixed to the other tubular end (FIG. 2A). The first fitting includes a cage 58, with an exterior diameter “e”, forming a chamber 59 with an annular cage aperture 59a. The second fitting includes a flared end 54a positioned to face the annular cage aperture and an exterior diameter “d” large enough to telescopically fit the second fitting over the end 51 of the first fitting. A circular spring 56 is placed in chamber 59 and is adapted for resilient retention of the flared end of the second fitting within the cage when the fittings are forced together (FIG. 2B). In addition, end 51 of the first fitting contains annular cutouts 53 each to receive an O-ring 55 placed in the cutout. The O-rings provide a seal and allow the tubular pipe or conduit to be pressurized when connected and placed in service to transport a fluid under pressure. The assembly and disassembly of the coupling is described in U. S. Pat. No. 4,055,359, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other similar connectors or couplings having the locking means of a circular spring can be used with the disconnect tool of this invention. The combination of the coupling and the disconnect tool provides an assembly for connecting and disconnecting ends of a tubular conduit along a tubular axis according to the present invention.